Emerging artists selected for German craft and design exhibition

It’s an honour that only a select few in the world receive, and recent School of Art graduates Ruby Berry and Harriet Lee Robinson are showing their work in Germany this week after they were selected for Munich’s Talente exhibition.

Ruby and Harriet were the only Australians selected for the international competition, which takes a maximum of 100 entries each year.

Talente supports young craftspeople in the fields of design and technology, and celebrates experimental approaches to materials and craft techniques. The exhibition opened on Wednesday, and prizes will be announced at an awards night on Saturday.

Before she left for Germany, textile artist Ruby said she was looking forward to spending time in Munich for the exhibition.

“It’s a great opportunity to network,” she said.

“Being an artist is all about getting to know people and finding out about opportunities.”  

Ruby’s work explores three-dimensional sculptures and employs traditional techniques in textiles.  

“I’ve always been interested in laborious, slow, hand processes like weaving and spinning, and really having control over the whole process from the beginning,” she said.

“ANU is one of the few places in Australia where you can learn techniques in weaving on a loom, using spinning wheels and screen-printing.”

Students are selected to apply for Talente by their lecturers based on the work they complete for their final assessment.

“For my honours year, my work was about creating objects that provided a sense of comfort and protection – looking at engaging textile associations that everyone has and communicating that through quite small but intricate objects,” said Ruby

Ruby graduated in December 2014 with first-class honours, and has stayed on at the School of Art this year as part of the graduate artist in residence program. She also took home four awards from the Emerging Artist Support Scheme.