Melting Point

For thousands of years, the process of metal casting has been widely utilised worldwide in the creation of a wide range of objects including tools, weapons, jewellery, sculpture and mechanical components. An ancient technique dating back to the Bronze Age (c.3300-1200 BCE), metal casting was the catalyst for some of humanity’s earliest advancements in manufacturing, engineering and the decorative arts. An inexpensive way to create multiples of complex objects, metal casting typically involves transferring molten metal from a crucible into a mould to create a positive metal cast object, with the most common techniques including  lost-wax casting, plaster mould casting, die casting and sand casting.

Fusing ancient techniques with modern design aesthetics, Melting Point pays homage to the tradition of metal casting by presenting the work of five contemporary designers who transform the raw material of metal into refined craft and design objects. Using a variety of different traditional metal casting methods, Andrew Carvolth, Nathan Martin, Julian Leigh May, Annie Paxton and Chrystal Rimmer reinterpret these techniques through a distinctly modern set of design principles and aesthetics. Through their mastery of metal casting, these contemporary artists both preserve and challenge traditional craft practices, pushing the materials and processes to their limits in the creation of new objects, shapes and forms.

Exhibitors: Andrew Carvolth, Nathan Martin, Julian Leigh May, Annie Paxton, Chrystal Rimmer

Julian Leigh May, Introspection IV Mirror, 2025, Photo: Matt McQuiggan