Alloy - Contemporary Craft Exhibition

Alloy showcases the individual and collective works of emerging artists who are reimagining, challenging, and expanding the notion of craft-making through innovative approaches. These contemporary craft-makers explore hybrid concepts and cross-cultural intersections using various means of expression. This thoughtfully curated collection amplifies the relevance of symbiotic relationships between the poetic and the linguistic, realism and surrealism, fluidity and statics, trauma and intimacy, and the cross-fertilisation of cultures through objects, jewellery, and textiles. Collaborations between artists bridge the gap between disciplines, sharing skills and techniques to create cohesive artworks. Alloy is evidence of the interplay of dialogue through material and proposes alternative approaches in contemporary craft-making. The exhibition consists of two parts: Part One features individual and collaborative works by resident artists of the Glasgow School of Art, representing the new wave of talent in British academia. Anita Sarkezi specialises in digital jacquard hand-weaving and multi-weft tapestry, employing the use of colour and ornament. Niamh Wright utilises modern techniques such as laser cutting, 3D printing, nylon, and acrylic, combining them with precious metals and mother-of-pearl. Alice Biolo focuses on minimalistic forms while incorporating new technology and hidden symbolism in her jewellery designs. Amy Findlay meticulously crafts realistic jewellery with a surreal twist by employing wax carvings and creating detailed textures with gemstones. Caius Bearder, working predominantly in silver, uses a combination of engraving and traditional hand-forming techniques to achieve the details which provide dynamic light play on the surfaces of the pieces. Lucy Johnson’s passion for concrete and brutalism translates into unique metal and concrete sculptures. Yitong Zhang’s craftworks intersect the world of poetry with the tangible world of objects, engaging in a balanced dialogue to find the meeting point of the two. Collaborative works among these artists bridge disciplines through shared techniques, creating dialogues between materials and forms and providing referential methods for contemporary craft-making. Part Two consists of contemporary jewellery and metalwork invited and recommended by the Royal College of Art. These works focus on the traditional cultural aesthetics and connotations behind craftsmanship, innovatively practising the many possibilities of combining traditional crafts with emerging technologies. They provide a platform for the encounter and debate between traditional and contemporary applied arts. Thus, Alloy will present a dialogue space created by the artist groups from two of the UK's top art institutions. Alloy not only refers to the dynamic relationships presented through the interaction of mixed materials and experimental expressions in the artworks but also symbolises the deep exploration of cross-cultural intersections and integration concepts. This exhibition aims to showcase the diversity of methods and innovative developments in craft media from an international perspective, exploring the multifaceted differences and harmonious resonances of craft culture in a contemporary context. Exhibition Dates: 14th September 2024 - 22nd September 2024, Private View on 13th September Exhibition Venue: 16 Chance Street, London, E2 7JB Academic Support: Glasgow School of Art Academic Advisor: Anna Gordan Curators: Yiru Zhang, Yitong Zhang