Junkshop Revolution at the Bluecoat
Brooch, Min-Ji Cho
A new exhibition at Liverpool’s Bluecoat Display Centre looks at how makers re-cycle everyday objects to make new pieces (until 1 August).
Though the idea of re-cycling objects to make new craft is not as revolutionary as its title implies, Junkshop Revolution includes some interesting takes on the idea. And as the credit crunch has made re-cycling increasingly popular – for many people a return to a World War II ‘make do and mend’ has become as much an economic necessity as an ideological imperative – it makes for a timely show, especially as it coincides with Liverpool’s Year of the Environment 2009.
Artists exhibiting include Korean maker Min-Ji Cho who makes brightly coloured jewellery using cut-up sections of rubber gloves which she combines with precious objects to create striking organic shapes. Cho only graduated from the RCA in 2007, but has already exhibited at Collect and Inhorgenta and is clearly someone to look out for. Others include Manchester maker Jenny Walker who gives found objects a new life (and value) by incorporating them into her work. Furniture makers represented here include Jason Taylor who works with both ready-made and re-used materials, and Green2Brown who re-cycle cardboard to make their range of chairs, lamps and vases. Look out also for Michael Badger’s tin can sculptures and Rachel Kelly’s interactive wallpaper printed on re-cycled paper.
www.bluecoatdisplaycentre.com
