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When working on this collection I imagined myself as a contemporary - primitive artist/designer that seeks to deliver to the viewer simple yet meaningful messages, by using austere artistic techniques: carving, cutting, scratching, sanding, burning. I think there is a true source of recharging and clarity for an artist, when looking at primitive art forms. The simplicity of the message, the purpose and intentionality, the directness, the authenticity, are inspirational for furthering of personal artistic practice.

The seduction of beautiful art materials that fascinates artists to the point of inhibition, was deliberately avoided in these pieces, by instead using entirely recycled timber in its own natural and unadorned beauty. The colour was stripped down completely from these works, instead, there is a myriad of dark textures and tones created by the flame of the torch, paint or varnishes.

For this 2026 exhibition, I challenge myself in immersing deep further into primitive thinking, into primitive understanding of making art and artefacts, into the connection between object, symbol, sign. From this understanding, I created a range of furniture that will blur the boundary between art and object, sign and utility, symbol and perception. The range of art/furniture/objects, are made by using recycled timber, archaic construction technique, restrained but rich textures, natural colour variation. I see each individual piece of this collection to be a very simple yet striking symbol, and have a certain presence in an interior.

While the functionally of the furniture pieces is obvious, they also resemble various simple signs: a house, a cathedral, a human, a bird.

The symbolic of these signs go a bit deeper, into our interconnection with culture, people, nature, civilization.

“The Man” symbol, obviously refers to our human connection and interconnection, our identity as beings.

“The Citadel”, reference the long development of culture, architecture, the civilized world.

“The Emu”, is the symbol of integration with nature, natural environment, cosmic rhythm.

“The House” refers to our own safe place, our own place in the world.

Title of the show “MC 20-26” in other words, means Macs Cove 2020 to 2026.  There are 6 years since I decided to build a studio and a holiday house in Macs Cove, but moreover, to reconnect with long lasting roots.

Our journey in life as humans, follow two different paths and developments: Phylogenetic the development or our evolution as part of the long line of humans, and civilization, and Ontogenetic the development of the individual from its birth.

Both paths, start from a state of perfection: as humans, we were once part of and integrated perfectly with the universe. As individuals, we started from the perfect state of the embryo. 

We can’t remember any of these events, but we have the nostalgia of them. Part of our journey through life, is the try and create a perfect place for us, as the beginnings were. And this is what happened in the past 6 years in Macs Cove, for me: the Phylogenetic and Ontogenetic paths interconnect and unified.  I reconnect with nature and cosmic rhythm, live vivid memories from my childhood surrounded by hills, wondering through forests, and watched simple people working with timber, building furniture and houses.

All these help me build up the artistic energy that allowed me to create the pieces for this show.