Banksia and Co - Husk, seed, wood, and clay: stories from what’s left behind

Exhibition Statement

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Banksia and Co:

‍Husk, seed, wood, and clay: stories from what’s left behind

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‍‘I’ve always been drawn to things that are so easily overlooked, things like the offcuts and scraps from building sites, the sea-glass and driftwood washed ashore, the seedpods scattered unnoticed on the ground’ Sara Buchner.

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Sara’s practice transforms discarded and forgotten materials into artworks, by printing with scrap lino and plywood, shaping sculptures from salvaged clay, or drawing inspiration from disregarded forms and shapes.

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This exhibition is a celebration of these hidden treasures. At its heart are banksia seedpods— remarkable natural forms that are often unnoticed in the landscape. Over the past year, Sara has dedicated much of her ceramic practice to exploring their intricate shapes, translating them into mixed media sculptures.

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Displayed alongside prints created with found objects, this collection of works invites viewers to slow down, look closer, and discover the beauty in what has been left behind.

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Artist Statement

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Sara Buchner
Marrickville-based Printmaker, Ceramic Artist, and Woodworker
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Sara Buchner is a multidisciplinary artist and designer whose practice spans printmaking, ceramics, and woodworking. With a background in interior architecture, her work bridges the worlds of art and design, exploring form, structure, and storytelling through materiality.

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Her ceramic work is influenced by architecture - both of nature and human design. Slab-built sculptures explore man-made facades, windows and arches, while hand-sculpted seedpods are inspired by nature’s design.

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In printmaking, Sara draws inspiration from dreams, crafting intimate, evocative illustrations that capture moments of warmth and quiet wonder. These works, often minimal yet rich in narrative, distill themes and forms down to their essence, showcasing details that are often overlooked.

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Sara’s practice also incorporates found objects and sustainably sourced materials, often working with discarded or up-cycled elements. By repurposing materials, she highlights their history and imperfections, leading to alternative narratives.