Photos: Saul Steed Copyright: Art Gallery of South Australia
Sappers and Shrapnel was a contemporary art exhibit curated by Dr Lisa Slade inspired by the little-known and undervalued art form known as 'trench art'. Sappers, as the exhibition was affectionately known, was held at the Art Gallery of South Australia from Remembrance Day 2016 until January 26th 2017. The term Sapper was given to those in the military during the Great War who worked as field engineers or were combat soldiers involved with breaching, demolition, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, and field defences.
Skein were commissioned to design a contained room within the gallery to display WW1 trench art along with a series of plinths for display of contemporary art works. Utilising textural materials and a sombre colour palette to highlight the vibrant art work, the honest and durable materials reference the associated austerity of trench construction.
Architecture and Exhibition Design: Skein
Curation: Art Gallery of South Australia
Construction: Art Gallery of South Australia