Dream-like Creations with Rose-Mary Faulkner
Rose-Mary Faulkner finds joy in relinquishing control to make space for creativity. Her glass works are a dream-like evocation of human sensation, and soon to be exhibiting as part of The Other Art Fair, taking place from the 11th – 14th of May in Sydney.
Words: Cardia Speziale I Photography: David Paterson & Pew Pew Studio
‘Having this brilliant foundation and deep immersion in all kinds of glass disciplines is certainly where a lot of the credit lies for the development of my practice,’ says Rose-Mary Faulkner. Photo: Pew Pew Studio for Canberra Glassworks
Neon Study III, 2019-2020, kiln formed glass with decal imagery, neon tubing with argon mercury gas. Photo: David Paterson
Impression Series III, 2021, framed kiln formed glass with decals. Photo: David Paterson
Impression Series I, 2021, framed kiln formed glass with decals. Photo: David Paterson
Rose-Mary Faulkner is a visual artist based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri land in Canberra. Her work is deeply emotive and human; an exploration of line, form and tonal variations of the body, expressed visually through soft, dappled imagery and subtle colour printed on glass.
‘Glass is a very diverse medium that requires a certain level of crafts(WO)manship to be able to really control,’ reflects Rose-Mary. ‘I’ve always been drawn to very organic shapes and forms that I see reflected in the figure but also in landscapes — I suspect partly because they have a gentleness about them,’ she says.
Since graduating with first class honours from the Australian National University School of Art & Design, Rose-Mary has been working to expand and develop her artistic practice. She is a studio tenant at Canberra Glassworks, and has had her work exhibited across Australia, Berlin, America, Japan, and also acquired as part of the national glass collection at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.
From an early age, Rose-Mary had an awareness and acceptance of how objects — be it art, sculpture or a creation of some kind — can exist just for the sake of existing and contributing more beauty to the world around us. ‘I find creative processes quite instinctual, and certainly creativity and art were a big part of growing up,’ says Rose-Mary. ‘Creating things is one of life’s greatest joys,’ she adds.
Passionate about children’s education in the arts, Rose-Mary is concurrently undertaking a Masters in Education as well as working in the museum sector with young people’s engagement and exhibition experiences.
‘Part of what I love about the studio is the breadth of interests it allows me to nurture, and I love the diversity of making, learning, researching and teaching that studio work provides. But I have always had a sense that part of my creativity has to be used to benefit others – this is really where I find my sense of purpose,’ she says.
‘As to the conceptual side of my work, as someone who makes work in relation to the female figure, I am inspired by a long line of extraordinary female artists that carved out space for women in the field, like Eva Hesse and Joan Semmel, whose work has strongly influenced my practice.’ Photo: Pew Pew Studio for Canberra Glassworks
“My work usually incorporates two-dimensional imagery within three-dimensional panels, using layered and abstracted photographic decals combined with soft surface finishes and the material qualities of glass to examine the body’s surface and form.”
‘Just as the creative cycle does, my routine ebbs and flows week to week. I both love and am overwhelmed by the unpredictability of it all, but within a week I try and set aside little chunks of time for each commitment in that week and importantly, ensure that something in there contributes to my own work.’ Photo: Pew Pew Studio for Canberra Glassworks
Learning more about Rose-Mary’s early influences, where her father’s own artistic practice inspired her and challenged her, we begin to understand where her appreciation for and interest in art-play and art-learning may have stemmed from.
‘My dad would take me oil painting as a child, where he’d point to a view and all I’d see was an old tipped over water tank and he’d see light and shadow and form. I keep a photograph of us painting in the studio, it’s a reminder to keep looking, delving deeper, and to have a bit of patience.’
Exhibiting a collection of works as part of The Other Art Fair in Sydney from the 11th – 14th of May, Rose-Mary sees the fair as a great opportunity to connect with other mediums and makers but also bring glass artistry to the forefront and educate other artists and art-lovers about the capacities of using glass as a medium.
‘It will be a very different style of showing work for me,’ she says. ‘I’ve only ever really exhibited in gallery settings which can be quite formal, so I’m interested to see how this format of exhibiting works and what opportunities that might lead to — I’m really excited about that!’
The Other Art Fair Sydney opens on Thursday 11th through Sunday 14th May at The Cutaway in Barangaroo, Sydney. Book tickets by midnight on Wednesday 10th May and save 30%.