earth, wings and wire
I did not travel to Darwin recently to see Vicky Shukuroglou 's solo exhibition but if I had, the trip would have been well worth while.
Earth, wings and wire aptly names a collection of pieces created, on the one hand, from fine wire - electrical fuse wire, copper and sterling silver - and on the other from more substantial pieces of copper and silver. The latter ranged from open to almost closed containers to silver and copper cups. I found myself being drawn from form to form - from the shallow copper dish that I could have brushed off the plinth, to the tight and compact silver cup that would be at home in Xena's kitchen (I imagine Xena has a kitchen, I've never seen her eat or drink!).
While there is no doubt about the function of open containers, spoons and candlesticks - things sit in them – the works created from wire are more ambiguous and intriguing. In 1998 Vicky Shukuroglou spent four months in the Northern Territory, two of which were spent in Maningrida, home to some of the best examples of the use of natural fibres in creating baskets and other containers. This Territorian residency has played a significant role in the earth, wings and wire exhibition. Just as the Territory runs from the lush tropical north to the harsh central desert, Shukuroglou's pieces range from the ethereal to the down to earth.
The works created from wire, like the containers, are able to hold things. Some do; the Mani mani neckpiece is filled with seeds from the Redbead Tree; a sterling silver armband also contains seeds but you have to look very carefully to