Current exhibition – Now on tour to 7 regional galleries

Barely Wearable

Body adornment for the age of overconsumption

CD discs, stainless steel wire, alligator clips.

Beer bottle caps, beer can six pack holders.

Behind the visually striking, cleverly ironic and seemingly effortlessly constructed objects ... lies a wealth of ideas, references, skills and commentary.
Prof. Amanda Lawson.

Read Opening Remarks in full here

About the exhibition

This body of work is a continuation of Ruth Downes’ passion for reappropriating everyday materials and objects to celebrate their intrinsic beauty. Materials for these thirty ‘wearable’ artworks have been gleaned from a diverse range of sources – from aircraft headsets to coffee capsules. Detritus from nature has also been salvaged to be re-born as a fashion statement.

By reimagining these materials she has created works that transcend their utilitarian function, casting them in a fresh light. The works question our accepted values and how we award status by projecting these everyday materials into the realm of art. They have a preciousness that confounds our expectations irrespective of their humble origins. This is much more than a simple ‘up-cycling’ exercise – Downes has an acute awareness of the potential of these materials. Her trademark humour also runs as a thread throughout the exhibition adding a further dimension.

These 3D works are mounted on a spectrum of coloured ellipses (350 – 750mm high) with several ‘busting out’ on mounted body forms. Some works are augmented by photo portraits of models (of varying sizes and gender) attempting to make them wearable.

> See Ruth’s CV

Tour exhibition dates: 2020-2023

Over three years Ruth’s ‘Barely Wearable’ exhibition will be on the road in Eastern Australia. It can be seen in seven regional galleries in Sydney, Hunter and South Coast NSW, as well as in Queensland.