Exhibitions

During her studies at Enmore Design Centre, Ashleigh was awarded the Student Excellence Award. Upon graduating, her work “On Pluto” was selected and shown at the 18th International Silver Triennial in Europe, as well as at Grad Metal XV in Melbourne as part of Radiant Pavilion. “On Pluto” then continued to tour Europe until early March 2018 where it showed at Inhorgenta Munich. Ashleigh also held her first solo exhibition at Studio 20/17 in Sydney in August 2017 and has since participated in and hosted a number of group shows. 

  • "The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel."

    - Piet Mondrian 

    Pluto, a metaphor used by O’Brien, describes the baron, chaotic and distant place his Alzheimer’s afflicted mind travels to during it’s "off moments"- when the brains messages start to fade. Just as a lamp that flickers on and off when the plug begins to fall out of the socket, so too does the mind of the Alzheimer’s victim.

    In creating the exhibition piece ‘On Pluto’, I ask audiences to forget stigmas of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is no longer your grandparent’s disease. It is our disease. It has many faces, many symptoms and many journeys.

    ‘On Pluto’ showcases the unique nature of each individual’s journey and the idea that despite the disease being so debilitating, what remains strongly intact is the victim’s soul and personality. This exhibition work shows the strain of the disease on its sufferers and asks audiences to consider how they can assist in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Sabi; sa.bi (sah-bee)

    1. Natural progression-tarnish, hoariness, rust.

    2. The extinguished gloss of that which once sparkled.

    3. To grow old.

    4. Graceful; carrying the burden of years with dignity; "the bloom of time"

     

    Sabi denotes a natural evolution. It has survived the marks of time. Importantly, despite ideas of decay it is never messy or careless.

    Through a learned understanding of Sabi, dilapidated and decaying piers provided a unique example. Structurally broken down piers demonstrated a storyline of past usage and new found beauty within a landscape. Worn down through continued use and storm water, piers demonstrated how a once new and useful resource could become an integral part of a seaside landscape, blending in and becoming one with the shoreline; as opposed to rigidly resting on top.

    Barnacles also provided a source of inspiration due to their interaction with decaying piers and the contradiction they provide. Barnacles slowly yet powerfully cement themselves onto the wooden beams, demonstrating a gradual yet stable interaction. However the organism’s cement-like nature wears down the pier, slowly eating away at the piers structural integrity. Barnacles demonstrate the ageing of a pier and transference into a new stage of the piers existence.

    Sabi is inspired by a minimalism that celebrates human interaction amongst nature and objects. Sabi exists due to a process of paring down, leaving what is necessary and what is beautiful in its simplicity.

  • “There is a fine line between genius and insanity.”

    - Oscar Levant

    In contemporary society stigma’s surrounding mental health suggest anxiety and depression are ugly, undesirable and even dangerous. These stigmas leave those experiencing mental health disorders marginalised, embarrassed and withdrawn.

    ‘Ugly Beautiful’, a series of brooches and pendants, visually examines and questions stigmas of mental health, in turn suggesting that anxiety is beautiful and allows for a sensory experience that enriches and connects mind, body + soul.

    In creating ‘Ugly Beautiful’ I wanted to examine the stigma that mental health disorders are negative and counterproductive to society. If life were to be experienced through a balanced perspective it is possible that there would be a lack of appreciation and inspiration gathered from objects, moments and sensory experiences. 

    ‘Ugly Beautiful’ acts as a reminder of this and asks audiences to reconsider their stigmatised beliefs of mental health. Through putting forward these brooches I hope for audiences to understand the inspiration that can be gained through anxiety and depression and understand that mental health is not ugly but in fact beautiful.