​Anna Davern, Queen Mary, 2018, 180x180x50mm, biscuit tin, tin tray, removable brooch, paper, plastic pearls, magnets. Photo: Fred Kroh

Greetings From The Colonies

Anna Davern

30 August– 5 October

Mon– Fri 9am-5pm
Sat 10.30am-4pm 

(OPENING)

Sat 7 September, 2-4pm

at 

Chapman & Bailey 

350 Johnston St 
Abbotsford 3067 

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

Anna Davern, Terra Nullius, 2018, lolly tin, removable brooch, paper, magnets. Photo: Fred Kroh

Anna Davern uses the technique of metal collage and assemblage to make jewellery and small dioramas that question long held ideas about Australia’s cultural identity. Issues of colonialism and multiculturalism are all tackled in a process of filtering, selecting, contrasting and reassembling images of Australiana found on old biscuit tins, tin trays and confectionary tins. The resulting narratives act as both cultural commentary and as humorous acknowledgement of the hybrid nature of contemporary Australian society.

Davern is interested in the tactile nature of jewellery and small objects and is driven to make work that encourages a physical engagement with objects in order for them to become wearable. The format and narrative of the diorama invites you to play with the characters and in the process you realize that some of them have moveable parts and bits that can be removed to be worn.

@annadavern @chapmanbailey #GFTC

Anna Davern, White Australia Brooch, 2015, steel, plastic pearls. Photo: Fred Kroh

(ABOUT THE ARTIST)
​
Anna Davern gained her undergraduate degree from Sydney College of the Arts in 1993 and completed her Masters degree at RMIT in 2003. Davern has held three solo exhibitions at Craft Victoria and has been represented in numerous solo and group exhibitions. In 2011 she co-founded Northcity4, an ARI that provides professional and creative opportunities to the contemporary jewellery community. She has been the recipient of grants from the Australia Council, Arts Victoria and NAVA and in 2007 she undertook a residency at the Estonian Academy of Art. Davern has taught and lectured at universities and TAFEs in Australia and overseas.