Craft Conversations
Christina Darras is an interdisciplinary artist and jewellery designer. She will be featured in this year's Virtual Open Studios as a part of the Craft Contemporary festival. We took a moment to chat with Christina and learn more about her practice and her upcoming studio visit.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you became interested in craft?
My name is Christina Darras, and I am an interdisciplinary artist of Athenian Greek origin. My practice is very diverse, using various techniques and materials to serve my visual artwork. Drawing, painting, crochet, embroidery, found objects all play a part. I love to make with my hands. It is my way of thinking and making sense of life with its highs and lows. Craft was my favourite play when I was a child; I would play for hours with my grandmother's basket of buttons and threads. I have never stopped playing since. I love dogs, chocolate, pasta and old movies with Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Lauren.
What are some unusual places you draw inspiration from?
Animation films ( any, all, I love them all), toys, unfashionable fashion, packaging, the floor of the swimming pool, old postcards.
If we walked into your studio, what would we see you working on right now?
I am always working on more than one project so that I can keep my inspiration fresh.
I am working on a giant flower pillow with embroidery and crochet petals, a version of banknotes on chocolate wrapping, perforated drawings that seem to explode on the wall. All evolve around identity and value. I am in the last semester of my master at VCA, so you would see me working feverishly.
In response to COVID-19, a lot of people have re-evaluated the way they work. What impact has the pandemic had on your practice? Were they positive or negative? Have you adopted any new skills or techniques that you otherwise may not have?
If it wasn't for Covid, I would have done more experimental work at the printmaking studios or the casting and sculpture studios at the VCA. Instead, as we were all restricted at home, I emphasized and worked with materials and techniques that I could do from my living room, with my whole family, dog included, in the house. As I enjoy long procedures of making, I immersed myself into crochet, embroidery and drawing and allowed the time spent to be my safe place.
Who is an underrepresented artist we should be looking at right now?
Oh! I am so lucky to be in this amazing cohort of great artists at VCA but also I get to meet wonderful artists with magic in their practices; it is tough to pick just one name or two.
Any events are you most looking forward to seeing this October?
Temporal Artefacts at Craft, and the (talk) Brett Whiteley: drawing is everything at Bendigo art gallery.
Thank you for your time, Christina! We look forward to seeing you in this year's Virtual Open Studios!
Interview by Eloise Sim, Curatorial and Programs Assistant