ARTWORK DETAILS

Tabitha Kearnes
Black Friday Installation
Clothing rack, clothing, stitched kangaroo, stitched joey in pouch, sweater with stitched ears, digital projection

ARTIST STATEMENT

A disheveled clothing rack: what’s new? Humanity’s disrespect of Earth’s resources has always been prevalent. The transition of clothing from bright to natural tones symbolises how our industry has become integrated into the lives of other species. The stitched kangaroo represents current reality: total assimilation of nature into our damaging lifestyle, also represented by the audio clip of the sewing-machine heart-beat. Audiences view a projection onto the rack, symbolising the hidden detriments of the industry, specifically water pollution. Fast fashion’s duality is referenced within the title: Black Friday; a day of mass overconsumption, or devastating 1929 Victoria bush fires.

ARTWORK PROCESS

Hand stitching of recycled clothing to create sculptures stuffed with recycled shopping bags in the shape of a kangaroo. Digital projection of running inks down a drain, alteration of recycled clothing

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tabitha Kearnes

My name is Tabitha Kearnes, I am currently in Year 12. I have always been interested in art, but moving from the United States to Australia allowed me to pursue it as a school subject, giving me new opportunities to apply my creativity in ways I would not have considered on my own. I try to highlight the issues of humanity and society in a way that will bring awareness to a new audience and hopefully help others realise the ways in which we are deceived every day.