Solo Exhibition

Woollahra Gallery, Gadigal (Sydney)

16 March - 3 April 2022

Viewing the surface of metal as a landscape, I use patterns and repetition to represent movements through time and place and draw inspiration from memories of summer visits to Redleaf Pool from where I grew up in Paddington. I retrace the route along the winding streets and hilly terrain to the harbourside pool, recording the layers of material time in the landscape and reconnecting with visual elements and landmarks along the way. Evocations of this experience are pieced together using bits of copper, brass, silver and gold resulting in a series of pendants and vessel objects.

These memories of place converge with geological and cultural streams of time as I solder and transform the metal into form. A traditional cushion shape associated with gemstones frames the pendants that are reminiscent of landscape views. Each vessel responds to specific moments in the journey and are small enough to hold in one hand with a lid that encloses the interior space, offering the promise of protection like the wrap-around pontoon that encircles the tidal pool at Redleaf. Held or worn on the body, these objects will gradually imbue new meaning further enriching their materiality as they travel through time and place.

Photos of individual works by Stuart Humphreys

Photos of exhibition installation by Document Photography

Metal pendants: Copper, brass, sterling silver, gold, silver solder, cord

Enamel pendants: Copper, vitreous enamel, cord

Metal vessels: Copper, brass, sterling silver, gold, silver solder

Enamel vessels: Copper, brass, sterling silver, silver solder, vitreous enamel