THE WORD ‘VESSEL’ is intriguingly ambiguous. 

Craft artists often interpret the term liberally, without any hint of a need for the object to actually contain or hold something.  There may be many surfaces to a vessel creating intrigue and a sense of mystery.

The artists exhibiting in this exhibition are all well known nationally and internationally.  They use a wide range of materials, from the mundane to the precious.

Mark Vaarwerk has developed a method of reducing the utterly mundane polystyrene fruit box by vaporising them until they are a fraction of their original size.  They are surprisingly heavy, retaining their original weight, and original markings, including his mother’s name.  These are intriguing works, although I don’t warm to them.

Concrete is another ubiquitous material used in so many applications in building and engineering.  Inari Kiuru is showing three works in concrete.  In three different colours, they have beautifully textured planes of contrasting smooth and patterned which catch the light.  The material has a natural weight, but their forms give them a surprisingly light appearance, as highlighted in the curved top and undercut edge of “Light from a distance”.

Vita Bila combines found objects with silver, nickel silver and stainless steel.  “Vessel #2” is a plain, round work, seemingly simple with two pieces of curved silver joined around a base.  The marks of soldering and the methods of joining have not been smoothed away and emphasise the seams.  “Vessel #1”is 925 silver and is in a traditional form, with strips of silver joined with solder.  These works all have a robust constructivist appearance, and contrast with the more traditionally refined works we see.

David Walker has recently moved back to the east coast from Western Australia is showing two trays and a cylindrical work titled “Vortex” all evoking water.  Shaped lengths of silver are threaded onto stainless still wire to create the trays.  Ribbon like lengths of titanium curve and wend their way through the silver, creating pools of colour, light and movement.  Small lengths of patinated copper fixed to a rigid form create the energy and movement of a vortex.

These seemingly simple works are extremely complex in construction, taking Walker’s signature grids into another realm.

Four explosion vessels by the late Robert Foster are on exhibit.  “Pewter Explosion” is in hammered pewter and aluminium.  It is an early explosive work and has not previously been seen in Australia.  Energy bursts from this work and is caught by “Bluebell Crush Vessel”, which twists back on itself and has a deeply scalloped rim.  “Drifting Willi Willi” is in a warm red/orange and is more restrained.  These works remind us of Robert Foster’s constant experimentation and willingness to take risks.

Mark Edgoose is showing “Rail and Vessel 7”, a structure for a wall with several tiny receptacles, for precious or everyday objects.  Titanium, niobium, steel and bronze have been folded into an architectural structure.  It is a work of art with a purpose.

Four whimsical and intriguing objects are being shown by local artist Alison Jackson.  Made from oxidised copper these objects are intentionally designed for no particular purpose.  Perched on small feet that pierce the walls of the vessel, they skip and play in the showcase, holding some hidden surprises.

This is another outstanding exhibition in the tradition we have come to expect of Bilk.  The works speak to each other even though they are so diverse.