The exhibition, Platform, showcases jewellery and textiles works from students, staff and alumni from the Dunedin School of Art along with works held in the Otago Polytechnic collection.
Platform highlights diverse and sustainable materials that may challenge notions of ‘wearable’ creations.
Artists in the exhibition include Victoria McIntosh, a 2005 graduate, with her quirky domestic subversions, Simon Swale, a 2000 Master of Fine Arts graduate and Fashion School lecturer with a work advocating fair trade practices, and Aurora Smyth, a current third year Bachelor of Visual Arts student in Jewellery, whose research engages in art and science connections.
The Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic offers a range of courses for curious, fashion-conscious and creative minds in the Jewellery and Textiles departments.
It is through experimentation that you find your artistic voice, one that is original and confident, reflecting your personal view of the world.
But where do you begin to discover that voice? How do you even decide on a subject or medium in the first place? This is a question that every creative practitioner asks themselves at some point.
Creativity in the art school is about taking risks, experimenting with hands-on methods, exploring materials, making mistakes and having an open mind while being supported by research active, experienced lecturers, tutors and technicians.
The Jewellery and Textiles Studios at the Dunedin School of Art offer a range of well-equipped facilities and are hives of activity with students consciously embracing the use of sustainable and innovative materials.
The resurgence of jewellery and textiles in contemporary art reflects a renewed appreciation and understanding of craft and materiality in a contemporary context.
Historically relegated to the realm of decorative arts or domestic work, jewellery and textiles are now being acknowledged as a powerful medium for artistic expression.
Students can gain skills in traditional and contemporary techniques, transforming materials into statements that can address for example, identity, culture or social issues.
The tactile nature of jewellery and textiles engages viewers in a sensory experience that contrasts with our increasing digital encounters.
As a result, jewellery and textiles in a fine art context are no longer labelled as mere craft but celebrated for their ability to convey complex narratives and inherent histories in a physical and immersive way.
Study options available at the Dunedin School of Art include a host of short course selections, certificate options, one year Graduate Diploma or three-year Bachelor of Visual Arts degree undergraduate programmes, and flexible postgraduate degree qualifications that offer access to the hands-on Jewellery and Textiles Studios.
‘Platform’ is open 10am – 4pm, 1 – 4 April 2025 at the Dunedin School of Art Gallery, Riego Street, Dunedin. Curated by Dunedin School of Art staff members, Octavia Cook, Amy Dougherty, Thomas Lord, Brendon Monson and Marion Wassenaar.
For more information please visit Visual Arts | Otago Polytechnic
