BETH SANDERSON
Australia
Grating
My works explore ideas surrounding value and ‘preciousness’, with the aim of finding beauty in often overlooked moments. My research re-examines routine tasks we typically think of as boring and mundane. Domestic work is undervalued within late-stage capitalism, which only values labour that is directly producing profit. Under these conditions, non-profit-producing labour can easily feel tedious and a waste of time. The grater form was chosen for two reasons, its familiarity and connection to the domestic space, and its violent nature. It is inviting as it is a form we are well accustomed to, however, the aggressive action of carving away at something and the double meaning of the word ‘grating’ reflect the tedious nature of routine and the chores we are constantly having to perform.
Material
mild steel, vitreous enamel, cubic zirconia
Technique
enamelling, laser welding, stone setting
Beth is an artist and contemporary jeweller from Melbourne, Australia. She creates works exploring the mundane and the ritual of routine. Her practice examines everyday and mundane objects with the aim of finding poetry in moments often overlooked.
Beth holds an Advanced Diploma in Jewellery and Object Design from Melbourne Polytechnic and completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at RMIT in 2023 where she received the Emily Hope Award for figurative works. She was a finalist in Craft Victoria’s annual graduate exhibition Fresh! in 2023 where she received the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Prize and was a finalist in Craft fair “Talente: Masters of the Future” in Munich Germany.
