|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| Kim Kennedy Metal Artist |
Metal marvels with a twist.
|
|
|
|
|
Kim Kennedy is a Melbourne-based contemporary artist who explores the possibilities of combining sculptural work with everyday homeware uses. With an arc welder and pieces of metal scrap Kim can turn everyday items such as wine racks or security doors into striking pieces of art. Our House visits Kim’s studio for a closer look at this unusual form of art. Kim first toyed with the idea of this form of sculpture after fixing his work vehicle with his welder.
Working with mild steel, which he welds and forms into all sorts of unnatural shapes, Kim creates a great variety of pieces - from gates and wine racks to mirrors and security doors. The metal is painted flat black and then a patina green is ragged on to achieve that old, distressed look. All his outdoor pieces are galvanised. As a final touch, Kim adds copper sculptural forms and trims to his various works. The copper is recycled from old hot water service tanks.
Kim first started producing sculptures based on Australian themes such as cattle drovers and the bushranger Ned Kelly, then explored the possibilities of a three-dimensional look by incorporating sculptures on to his paintings. It wasn’t until he participated in a trade show in Frankfurt that he became really interested in working metal sculptural forms in with functional homewares.
Today Kim has ventured away from the Australian themes and is concentrating more on European influences like St. George and the Dragon and Don Quixote for sculptural forms on his gates and security doors. Often he just lets the metal shapes dictate his surreal designs, which seem to be bursting with an energy all of their own.
Kim’s Background
Kim has represented Australia internationally at the 1986 Los Angeles Art Fair and the 1994 Ambiente Art and Interior Design Fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Both shows proved very successful, with every piece being purchased by international buyers. Kim then went on to hold one-man exhibitions as well as exhibiting in numerous group shows.
After the success of his exhibitions, Kim was commissioned by the Australian Tourism Association to create a sculpture symbolising the attributes of Australia. The 5m high sculpture is now on permanent display at the entrance to its head office in Canberra.
Kim has received numerous awards for his work and his artworks are included in collections not only around Australia but also worldwide. Kim has a simple philosophy towards his art:
“There are no set rules in contemporary art. Know your subject matter and capture its character in that special way, then you will have made a statement”.
|
Cost
Some examples include security doors (from $2000), mirrors (around $500) and wine racks (from $250).
|
More Info
For more information on Kim Kennedy originals, call Kim’s agent Alan Drew,
Ph: (03) 9840 6550.
|
Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
|
|
|
|
|
