Metalheads: Acid Goth expanding into welded sculptures
Late 2024, when I returned to Melbourne from my corporate job in Kenya, I was given an incredible opportunity to learn how to weld at Bervic Engineering, an industrial parts manufacturing company. Over several months I tried industrial MIG, Arc and Oxy welding, learning my absolute love of the MIG (pictured with me).
As I fumbled my way through the most awful welds that anyone has ever seen, learning how to identify too much current, not enough gas, and the speed of wire feeds, I was so elated to be learning such a cool skill. I had no idea how it would apply to my arts practice and my joy of painting vibrant canvases. I knew that the answer would reveal itself in time, but the most important thing was for me to learn.
When I finally graduated from test runs to creating my own structures, I first shaped and welded a bat wing skeleton (pictured above). The next step was to systematise that shape and try to create as many as possible in a time constraint. Something I always enjoy doing in my practice is giving myself arbitrary constraints - it helps me stretch myself, learn and adapt.
Next, I moved (filled with trepidation) on to 3D forms, deer heads and other animals (mythical and real, such as the little devil pictured above) with increasing confidence. These shapes are so cool and they hold so much potential for further exploration! I envisage resin and neon experimentation but ultimately I hit a snag in my sculpture practice - I moved to Ballarat.
Separated from a welder, my practice ceased. I was not deterred by this, and always articulated my expansion into 3D with every gallery application, knowing it was a matter of time before it all came together. My efforts paid off: I was accepted into Art Space Ballarat for a showcase of painting and sculpture set for 2028, and in October 2025, I was awarded the Haymes Foundation Grant through the Ballarat Arts Foundation funding the set up of my welding studio.
This is such an incredible opportunity! With this welding studio, I will continue to improve my skills, but also allow myself the experimentation space to build on these cool forms I have already created and bring in resin, illumination and other mixed media. I am working on a concept for the welding pieces that will showcase them as the heroes of their own exhibition.
It’s so exciting! Stay tuned!