Plastic straws 2020-22

Summary

These ceramic straws created by Kenny Pittock are a part of the Metro Tunnel Creative Project Donation received by the Art and Heritage Collection in 2023. The work was featured as a part of the exhibition 'Making the Metro Tunnel: Reflections by Contemporary Australian Artists' which took place at Domain House from 1 April - 7 May 2023.

Pittock's ceramics playfully represent items from the archaeological digs that were not deemed historically significant, and therefore destined to be discarded, but still contain clues as to Melbourne's social history, from old beer cans to plastic straws.

Commissioned by the Metro Tunnel Creative Program, the exhibition sought to "explore and celebrate the construction milestones of the Metro Tunnel Project, which has been under construction for several years. The artists in this exhibition have taken inspiration from archaeological digs, heavy machinery, the aesthetics of worksites and worker's equipment to produce their own portrayals of the project." - quote from 'Making the Metro Tunnel' exhibition catalogue, 2023

"A by-product of the archaeological dig for the Metro Tunnel was a treasure trove of buried ephemera that was uncovered. These salvaged items were considered to have no intrinsic or heritage value and therefore destined to be discarded. I was invited to look through this material and chose several items to research and replicate, creating a permanent ceramic tribute to otherwise forgotten objects. Like these objects, clay is extracted from the earth and so it seemed a fitting material. Ceramics is an inherently slow medium which directly contrasts with the fleeting nature which these items were engaged with in their time. My hope is that these sculptures can bring a sense of wonder to those who experience them, and help provide an otherwise lost insight into our city’s history." - Kenny Pittock, quote from 'Making the Metro Tunnel' exhibition catalogue, 2023