Of Counting and Devotion

In Of Counting and Devotion, Wanda reaffirms the abacus not just as a tool for calculation, but as a system for encoding hidden knowledge. While traditionally used for counting, its frame now takes the form of a strange, mystical alphabet-echoing the secret languages of sages and mystics throughout history. The beads, once simple markers of value, retain their dual function as tools of devotion, recalling the prayer beads of various spiritual traditions.

At the heart of the exhibition, The Sage emerges - a hand-carved face formed from a local burl. He is the orchestrator, weaving meaning from numbers and symbols, a master of hidden knowledge and sacred patterns. Draped in strands of prayer beads of varying sizes, he embodies contemplation and mystery, measuring the immeasurable and guiding us toward deeper reflection.

The abacus, from its origins in Mesopotamia to its later forms in Asia and Eastern Europe, speaks to humanity’s perennial impulse to quantify and order the world. In recent years, she has come to view the abacus as a powerful metaphor for our contemporary era—a moment of reckoning. By lathe-turning and hand-carving oversized wooden beads, she transforms them from utilitarian counters into powerful symbols of both spiritual devotion and tangible value.

Through this work, Wanda invites us to consider how symbols-whether in prayer, scripture, or cipher-hold the power to bridge the seen and unseen, the earthly and the divine.

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Wanda Gillespie is a contemporary artist specialising in sculpture, installation, and public art. Known for her interactive abacus sculptures and wood-carved figurative works, her practice explores history, time, truth, and mysticism, drawing from ancient artifacts and nature's mathematical harmony.

Wanda has exhibited widely in solo and group shows, including at the National Gallery of Australia and the Institute of Modern Art. A finalist in numerous prestigious sculpture prizes, she has received multiple residencies and awards, including funding from the Australia Council and Creative New Zealand. Wanda is a current artist in residence at the Victorian Woodworkers Association.