SOIL CLAY
Without soil, there’s no life.
The Soil Clay Project is an ongoing exploration of emerging artist and jewellery designer Vivian Qiu’s experience of studying and living across three different countries: China, Australia, and Sweden.
When you move around, you always take something with you and leave something behind.
Wherever Vivian is situated, she observes her surroundings, collecting natural materials or everyday objects that she repeatedly encounters on her wanderings.
Utilising soil, fallen leaves, flowers and grass alongside rice, which acts as a binding agent in her work, she moulds these found materials into wearable artworks.
Connecting the wearer to place, time, and culture through materials and the ancient symbolism of oracle bone script.
Artworks from Vivian’s residency in Sweden was on display from 2 October - 5 November 2023 in Manningham Council's window exhibition space, located on the ground floor of the MC Square Community Centre.
This event was presented by Manningham Council & Vivian Qiu, as part of Craft Contemporary 2023, an annual festival delivered by Craft Victoria.
Lending a hand’, 2023, soil, rice, sand, Images Courtesy of Arts Manningham. Photos by Charlie Kinross.
Memory, 2023, soil, grass, rice, Images Courtesy of Arts Manningham. Photos by Charlie Kinross.
'Strolling', 2023, rice, embroidery floss, paint, thread, grass, Melbourne coffee ground, Images Courtesy of Arts Manningham. Photos by Charlie Kinross
Pot Wall Photograph’, 2023, vinyl print, Images Courtesy of Arts Manningham. Photos by Charlie Kinross.
