brief:  Design textiles that tell a story and capture the essence of your matured style.  

solution:  Banksia reflects upon the endangered evolution of craft traditions, particuarly crochet. As the piece grows, the hole cut-outs grow larger, signifying a gap or loss of knowledge. In our present, Banksia’s unique structure paints its surroundings with patterns of shadowed light. In time the gaps will become more and the shadows less until someday we are sadly left with a naked bulb and a forgotten craft. 

Concept statement for Art from Trash Exhibition: Banksia is an experimental lighting concept that creates an environmentally sustainable craft-focused solution to working with waste. Inspired by traditional basketry and natural forms, plastic bags are crocheted into an atmospheric piece of functional art. This work promotes the power of creativity in transforming the mundane into something of value. 

Mia Sabel’s design philosophy celebrates her lifelong passion for creative reuse, posing the question: if all waste was once designed, how can we design more sustainably. 

Materials: Polythene plastic bags, wire, cable feeder, gumtree branch, camphor laurel stump, wooden lounge feet, light bulb, cord