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Gandel Atrium | Until 15 April 2024 | Free

A story of design, technology, material and culture

Material World is an evocative new exhibition exploring the story of design, which is one of necessity, creativity, commerce and research and is shaped by technology and materials, both traditional and new.

See objects from research centres, designers and the National Museum of Australia’s collection. These objects are evidence of the creativity and innovation of First Nations peoples, early settlers, scientists, engineers, designers, artists and architects.

Material World exhibition 1:16

Material World features works including the stunning Fish Trap in Glass by Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, an Arrernte artist who works with glass and uses centuries-old European techniques to create sculptural pieces inspired by First Nations objects. This artwork references traditional woven fish traps.

Developed in collaboration with the Swayn Gallery of Australian Design, Material World was curated by Swayn Senior Fellow of Australian Architecture, Adjunct Professor Lyndon Anderson.

Material World features objects made from glass, leather, ceramics, metal and wood. 'The exhibition can be viewed as a whole or as five smaller exhibitions, each focusing on a different material and how its use has evolved from First Nations applications to outer space exploration,' Adjunct Professor Anderson said.

Read the media release

Event Design Challenge – School holiday program Date: Every weekday until 14 July 2023 Ticket information: Cost apply, bookings essential Ticket information: Book tickets

Starts 7 July 2023. Sessions 10–11am, 11.30am–12.30pm
Step into a world of innovation inspired by our captivating new exhibition Material World. Get hands-on with a range of unique materials and explore the process of design thinking to tackle real-world problems.

Event Object Club – Material World curator tour Time: 10.30am–11.30am Date: Friday, July 28, 2023 Ticket information: Free, bookings essential Ticket information: Book tickets

Join us for a tour of Material World by its curator, Adjunct Professor Lyndon Anderson, Swayn Senior Fellow of Australian Architecture. This evocative exhibition, developed in collaboration with the Swayn Gallery of Australian Design, explores design through the materials of glass, leather, ceramic, metal and wood. Exclusive to Friends. Join Friends

Banner image: Vitreous knit (detail), 2022, designed and made by Max Maxwell and Sam Tomkins, Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra. National Museum of Australia

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