In collaboration with the Metro Tunnel Creative Program, Craft worked to share nonsignificant archaeological fragments with Victorian artists to transform them into new objects. All items shared were from the period of time post-European settlement.
As part of the project, ten artists were nominated by Craft’s and Metro Tunnel Creative Program teams to transform the discarded archaeological fragments. Pieces of broken glass, shards of porcelain, wire, and tile were selected by artists and transported to their studios, where they were remade into ceramic amphorae, jewellery, furniture, and lighting.
Reformed and repurposed, these new works interpret the built history of a city while simultaneously looking toward its future.
Client: Metro Tunnel Creative Program
Project Type: Commission, Exhibition, Public Program
Artists: Ruby Aitchison, Jack Balfour, Juan Castro, Dale Hardiman, ACV Studio, Jenna Lee, Claire McArdle, Tantri Mustika, Iluka Sax-Williams, Dan Bowran
"From the moment I learned about the project and the opportunity to respond to these fragments which had been recovered from the archaeological dig sites, I began to think about creating something that was a light source. I felt it would be beautiful to bring light to something that had been in the dark for so long.”
/ Project Artist, Juan Castro
Presented in partnership with the Metro Tunnel Creative Program, Craft facilitated a workshop series which invited Melbourne’s public to join three of the Unearthed artists in transforming discarded archaeological fragments from the Metro Tunnel dig into works of art.
