Buttons once contained a wealth of embedded knowledge, historical narrative, symbolic reference and were signifiers of social class, wealth, political views, love, gender, art and craft practice. Buttons were once used as a trading commodity, as they had significant economic value. Since the industrial revolution, advancement of technology and materials used, mass production of buttons allows for a more economic means of production, changing the identity of buttons and their importance.

The ordinary mundane button of today, no longer carries the same relevance as its historical ancestor and as a result, buttons are now used as a functional, practical or decorative fashion accessory, reflecting our modern disposable culture.

Lost Buttons is a body of work I created using hand built ceramic techniques and is a celebration of the lost, disregarded history and value of traditional buttons. My assemble and installation consists of hand built ceramic buttons, antique washing tools and associated laundry objects, all of which were once used in an ordinary, everyday domestic setting. I used slab and coiling techniques to construct the ceramic objects and finished them using various pigments, oxides and glazers. I used repetition of form, size, shape, scale, texture and colour, to conceptually narrate emotions of importance, relevance and history found in these objects. The installation and assemblage contains an element of mindfulness, as the process of creating this body of work has enable me to reconnect and reflect on the importance of these objects, in my own modern household.

House Warming Exhibition

Kiama

Postcodes From The Edge Exhibition