Toad Busting Exhibtion
This exhibition is presented in collaboration with VERMIN and fights the war on cane toads by transforming these toxis invaders into bespose designs and chic fashion.
VERMIN is a collaboration between visual artist and designer Lia Tabrah from Melbourne and Torres Strait Islander, stylist and founder of Jira Models, Perina Drummond. VERMIN is on a mission to establish ethical and sustainable manufacturing and production facilities of cane toad leather in First Nations communities around Australia who are directly affected by the invasive species starting in the Torres Strait.
For the Toad Busting exhibition, Lia invited Melbourne-based designers and artists to create custom bespoke designs from cane toad skin. Think tropical Mad Max, Australian 80s grunge and apocalypse chic.
Artists: Jenny Bannister, Collagism, Andrew Delaney, Mark Douglass, Kate Durham, Kate Geck, The Huxleys, Ms Juliet Jones, MO, Boyde of Paradise/Michelle Boyde, VERMIN, Preston Zly.
About Lia Tabrah: Founder of VERMIN the Label, Lia Tabrah, commenced working with cane toad leather in 2017. Lia is a Melbourne based designer, artist and curator operating under the brand O.T.T. by Lia.T since 2008.
In her art and design practice, Lia revels in the colourful spectacle of Australiana, kitsch, vernacular forms and wearable art. Her flamboyant work blurs the lines between the natural and the artificial in unexpected ways, bringing together a wide range of references including pop culture, tourism iconography, Australian folklore, and the environment. Lia uses various techniques such as metalsmithing to redefine notions of beauty, luxury, and high and low culture.
Lia has collaborated with many leading cultural organisations including National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Melbourne Fashion Festival, and Melbourne Design Week.
Lia will be artist-in-residence from 27 to 30 September. She’ll be having a yarn, talking about the exhibition and her own cane toad creations on 29 September. Stay tuned for more details.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, 18 September 2022 - Saturday, 1 October 2022
Time: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 5.00pm, Sat - Sun 9:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Re:Collections UPFront Space - 93 Queen Street, Ayr
Tickets: Free
Ages: All Ages
Access: All capacity access
Supported by:
Re:Collections is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.