Wanda Gillespie
Wanda Gillespie — 'An Abacus for Mystical Reckoning' (Orchid), Sculptural Abacus
The Orchid Abacus is a unique sculptural work crafted from Totara timber, native to Aotearoa, featuring hand-shaped brass and wooden beads. Designed to engage both aesthetic and mathematical sensibilities, the bead formations can be arranged to suit the owner's personal expression or logic. Finished with a natural wax cream, the piece is easily maintained with a simple wipe from a damp cloth.
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Wanda Gillespie is a contemporary artist based in Naarm, known for her bespoke wooden abaci that reinterpret the ancient counting device through a modern lens. Her sculptural works explore themes of value, measurement systems, and the intersection of the material and mystical. In An Abacus for Mystical Reckoning (Orchid), Gillespie draws inspiration from native Australian orchids endemic to Tasmania and Victoria, abstracting their forms into the brass workings of her abacus sculptures. This piece reflects on the fragility of these threatened species and prompts contemplation on how human-driven systems of value and economy impact the natural world.
Material: totara wood, brass, wooden beads, brass beads, wax finish.
Dimensions: approx. 55 x 62 x 12 cm