At this time of the year, Fitzroy-based artist Sean Meilak’s garden is in constant flux – bursting with new growth and multi-coloured blooms!
Drawing inspiration from this charming little sanctuary, along with the wealth of art, architecture, and design history that inspires his practice, the multi-disciplinary artist has created a captivating series of free-standing and wall-mounted sculptures for his upcoming solo exhibition!
With their iconographic, architectural forms and serene pastel hues, these contemporary curios are classics-in-waiting!
Sean shares more…
What have you been up to since we last featured you on TDF, earlier this year?
Since February this year my work has been in a number of group exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney, including a group show at Artbank in Sydney, presenting a sculptural installation with Niagara Galleries at Sydney Contemporary in September, and an installation for the group Exhibition Artefacts which was part of Melbourne Design Week.
Can you tell us a little bit about the pieces you’ve created for this TDF Collect show?
Parade is in many ways an exhibition that celebrates my love of art, architecture, design, gardening and plants, and how all these things inform my practice.
I love this time of the year in our Melbourne garden, which is in constant flux, bursting with new growth and multicoloured blooms. Our garden is a very small space with tall walls so the focus is very vertical – this verticality inspired the many small wall-hung sculptures I have made especially for the TDF exhibition.
How are these works different to your past pieces?
My work is quite multi-layered and takes in many personal and historical threads – so while the personal and historical, art, architectural and design still informs the work – there is also a focus on the seasonal, the transformational and the ephemeral.
Were any interesting techniques, materials and processes involved?
A lot of my plaster sculptures are made through tinting plaster with oxide pigments, and this process is constantly evolving.
What are you looking forward to about this exhibition?
Parade is a synthesis of all the things that inspire what I do and influences my creative process so I am very excited to be sharing this new body of work.
Also what I love about TDF Collect is that the space often presents affordable art and encourages collecting. TDF Collect shows you don’t need a big budget to start an art collection. I am really excited about presenting an affordable range of works, which I have created exclusively for TDF Collect.
What’s next for Sean Meilak?
I’ll be developing a limited edition jewellery range based on my sculptures and drawings over the summer!
Please join us, and Sean, for the opening of Parade next Saturday, November 10th!
All the works in this show are now pictured on the TDF Collect website, and are available to purchase via email from today – enquiries, email art@thedesignfiles.net.
Parade by Sean Meilak
November 10th – 15th
TDF Collect
14 Little Oxford Street
Collingwood, VIC
Saturday 10th, 10:00am – 5:00pm, with opening drinks from 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Sunday 11st, 11:00am – 3:00pm
Monday 12nd, CLOSED
Tuesday 13rd, 10:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday 14th, 10:00 – 4:00pm
Thursday 15th, 10:00 – 4:00pm
Sean Meilak is represented by Niagara Galleries.
This exhibition is generously supported by Dulux, Magnum and Queens Wine, Sample, and CAPI.
