Buying and supporting local: Canberra designers unite as part of annual design festival

This year has felt like walking along a tightrope 20 storeys above the ground for creative industries so the opportunity to be surrounded by great artwork by emerging and early-career designers has never felt like such a blessing; HOME:MADE 20 is back IRL (in real life) for the fourth year in a row as part of the Design Canberra Festival.

Speaking to Craft ACT chief executive and Design Canberra artistic director Rachael Coghlan only made the event feel that much more tangible and alluring, her passion to showcase Australian talent seeps into her every word and rekindles the hope and excitement for art Canberra is so well known for.

“HOME:MADE is one of our favourite signature exhibitions, there is something really exciting about creating a platform for early-career artists to show who they are, where they are heading, and the ideas they have,” Coghlan says.

“It seems more important than ever that we support artists and creatives this year and I think that it’s just as important for us to give opportunities to designers and artists at all stages of their careers.”

The line-up of makers is just as impressive as what they’ve made, from the spectacularly futuristic Turbine Bowls created by Scott Van Tuil to the detailed functional pieces of work from industrial designer Rene Linssen.

HOME:MADE encompasses the very best in furniture design, jewellery, homewares, and textiles so you can view and even add a beautiful yet practical piece of artwork to your home.

“Buying and supporting local and handmade gives you this personal connection to the objects you end up living within your home every day and I find that really special,” Coghlan says.

“You tend to know the artist, you get to know the story behind the object, you know that it hasn’t travelled far and it’s often one of a kind.”

In personifying artwork, you can really start to grasp the value of it, not so much in dollar figures but in the richness and warmth, it emulates within a space.

Instead of a simple table, you can have Chi Yusuf’s walnut and leather Branch Chair and Desk that uses joinery methods traditionally used to make wine barrels.

Or Madisyn Zabel’s mesmerising geometric glasswork that’s shape shifts before your eyes.

When you fill your home with handmade items, you’re never truly alone. You’re surrounded by the stories and emotion of the artist. And in a time when we’re home and alone more than ever, it’s an extraordinary gift to be given.

“As well this year, we’re immensely proud to be supporting a breadth of Indigenous artists, particularly Indigenous female artists like Mavis Marks, Keturah Zimran, Eunice Napanangka Jack, and Krystal Hurst,” Coghlan says.

“It’s absolutely beautiful to have these wonderful representations of culture, country and storytelling from these really talented women.”

Zimran, Marks, and Jack have immortalised scenes and stories in fabric, screen-printed by hand. There’s life and history enmeshed in each piece that moves with the wind if a window is left open and transfixes the imagination if you look upon them but for a moment.

In Coghlan’s words, the exhibition is a celebration of creativity and joy, and simply by coming together, we can support great Australian talent when they need it most.

• HOME:MADE 20 will take place at Canberra Contemporary Art Space – East Space Gallery from November 9 to 29.