Textiles students upcycle centenary flags for DESIGN Canberra

Students of fashion, textiles and industrial design at Canberra’s educational institutions have come together to repurpose and upcycle banners and flags from Canberra’s centenary celebrations last year.

The creative works of 21 students from the University of Canberra, The Australian National University and Canberra Institute of Technology will feature this week in an exhibition of creative experiences that connect centenary celebrations with present and future possibilities.

This exhibition, Flagging our Future, is part of the inaugural DESIGN Canberra Festival which showcases the possibilities for the national capital’s creative life, bringing together some of the best creative thinkers and celebrating their achievements in the industry.

Students were set a brief to explore a range of issues, feelings, thoughts and emotions about Canberra, with the underlying idea that the exhibition is a way to give the flags back to the community. 

They have met the challenge in extraordinary ways, with an exciting, diverse and thought provoking array of creative pieces to share included in the exhibition.

Eight second-year students from the ANU School of Art Textiles Workshop creatively upcycled the centenary flags to make wearable pieces, abstract installations and even a spacesuit.

ANU student Grace Moylan’s work ‘Fold. Press. Sew’ focuses on triangle shapes for her origami-inspired collection of brooches, bracelets and necklaces.

“The shapes in the fabric worked well with this project because the triangle represents many of the symbols of Canberra. The jewellery gives you a little piece of the flag to wear and keep as a memento,” she says.

The exhibition was launched by ACT Minister for the Arts, Joy Burch MLA on Wednesday 19 November 2014 at 4pm.

ANU students and their work in the exhibition:

Francesca Bleeker, The most overworked traffic cone in Australia, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, polyester, sand, foam.

Reuben Bokaba, Canberra autumn winds, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, zips, interfacing.

Sarah Chapman, Growth, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, Eucalyptus leaves, marker.

Nadina Geary, Network, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, copper wire, mercerised cotton, gel adhesive.

Tundi-Rose Hammond, 100 badges for 100 years of Canberra, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, cardboard, spray adhesive, badge clasp metal.

Hilary Hanrahan, Let’s go fly a kite, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, wire.

Peter Kongmalavong, Yours, Mine, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, vinyl, mesh, PVC.

Grace Moylan, Fold.Press.Sew, 2014, Centenary of Canberra flag, polyester thread, chain, clasps.

Exhibition opening times

Thursday 20 November and Friday 21 November 2014: 11am – 5pm

Saturday 22 November and Sunday 23 November 2014: 10am – 4pm

Location

Former JB Hi-Fi store in Canberra CBD, opposite King O’Malley’s Pub.

See more DESIGN Canberra events featuring ANU staff, students and alumni

Get a sneak peek of the students’ work in the photo gallery. Photos by Stuart Hay.