RMIT Creative Residency Award

Reconstructing the vessel depicted in paintings as novel metal work objects.

The act of abstracting metal iterations of vessels from paintings blurs the lines between disciplines, positioning jewellery and objects as equal to traditional art forms such as painting.  The research extracts from historical contexts and thematic elements found in diverse paintings. The process of creating new metal forms from paintings distorts pre-existing knowledge of functional objects and vessels, altering ideas of the familiar whilst also challenging hierarchies within art.

Extracting conceptual elements from paintings to create three-dimensional metal works, invites an opportunity for contemplating fresh interpretations. This morphology creates meaning through intervention and the process of ideation.  The duality contained within this research considers hierarchies both within the arts, and socio-political themes such as the problematic nature of patriarchy and colonisation. These ideas have been pursued in multiple directions and are referenced throughout the research and within the final body of works.

Dee Robinson, miniature replica of Frederick McCubbin’s 1884 ‘Home Again’, 2024. Photo: Dee Robinson Art.
Dee Robinson, ‘McCubbin series: Watering can’, 2024, gilding metal, silver.  Photo: Juliette Claire
Dee Robinson, ‘Guston series: Vessel’, 2024, aluminium. Photo: Dee Robinson

The research created a platform which critiques traditional notions of space in the context of both an arts space and the female space. This was demonstrated by developing a body of work where paintings by male artists were repainted in miniature. The vessels from within these paintings were observed, recorded through drawing, painting, and making of maquettes, transpiring into objects which used traditional methods of silversmithing and ancient techniques of metalwork.  There are four series of works responding to four artists whom reference the vessel within their work.

Chance Tool

Chance Tool is an additional body of work undertaken in my Honour’s year.

The game was developed to assist in the flow of studio processes and moments of stuckness.  The intervention functioning as a mode to move work forward or in unexpected directions. Containing elements of chance and play which have assisted in developing previous bodies of work.

Dee Robinson, ‘Chance Tool’, 2024, vessel, brass, copper. Photo: Dee Robinson

instagram.com/deerobinson_art

Dee Robinson. Photo: Tilly Parsons

Metalwork, Jewellery, Objects, Art. Naarm/Melbourne. Australia. Dip. Jewellery and Objects. BA Fine Arts (Gold and Silversmithing) RMIT 👩🏻‍🏭Honours 2024.

Dee Robinson