Anke Kindle – 'Quilted Scrubber' Brooch, 2021

The 'Quilted Scrubber Brooch' examines the quilt as well as the scrubbing brush as a form of protective armour for the wearer. Here a traditional quilt shape- the diamond pattern is reconstructed in a circular, shield like form. Instead of being soft and yielding the diamond pattern is reconstructed form hydraulic formed copper sheet which is then blackened omitting the softness and yielding nature of a traditional quilt.

Of a similar textural fashion is the scrubbing brush. Here the ordinary, everyday object of the scrubbing brush and its potential to sweep away unwanted substances is reconstructed from a fine furniture timber the American Walnut and cream coloured horse hair. The intention of the 'Quilted Scrubber Brooch' and its surface characteristics is to question notions of femininity and traditionally perceived 'feminine crafts' such as quilting and stitching beckoning the question in which realm do these disciplines truly belong?

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Anke Kindle is a German born, Naarm (Melbourne) based artist- jewellery and object designer. In 2020 she founded Studio Blau. a co-working jewellery and object design workshop situated in Melbourne's inner North. Kindle's jewellery practice is largely concerned with the politics of object and their underlying, hidden meanings and messages that humans convey through their selection, display and use. She is particularly interested in objects within the domestic realm. Since the inception of her workshop she has extensively utilised the scrubbing brush to explore labour - in particular women's work as well as their place and role throughout history up to the present moment.

In her practice Kindle re-contextualises the scrubbing brush as a decorative, ornamental, jewellery object that examines the role of women and their place within the home and beyond. Her wearable brushes are made from fine furniture timbers such as Huon Pine and traditionally used fibres such as horse and goat hair.

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Material: oxidised copper, 9ct yellow gold, sterling silver, American walnut, horse hair

Dimensions: approx. 100 x 90 x 13mm

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