Fringe Furniture 33: Pushing The Boundaries Of Design And Sustainability

September 25th, 2019.

For 27 years, Fringe Furniture has been an inspiring and dynamic addition to the Melbourne Fringe Festival program. This year, Fringe Furniture 33 is once again providing a vital platform for established and emerging furniture designers who are pushing the envelope of technique, aesthetic and material possibilities. 

From the reassuringly practical to the confusingly obtuse, Fringe has seen it all, and this year is no exception. With the launch of Fringe Furniture 33 at the Abbotsford Convent on 11th September 2019, visitors can expect another boundary-pushing showcase of cutting-edge design that celebrities individuality, differences, and the things that bind us together. 

The weird, innovative and sustainable artworks presented this year take many forms, including a set of pendant lights made from repurposed corn husks, a gravestone made from recycled polypropylene, and acoustic wall panels made from recycled paper pulp. 

Kohtaroh Matsura Shida

Mood Side Table by Dean Norton

Mr D by Joandita Centika

Intersect is an exhibition highlight – a boundary pushing table consisting of metal pipe intersections, this piece displays innovative design which allows for tool-less assembly and disassembly. 

Designer Sara Tan discovered her interest in metal laser cutting for furniture while undertaking her Master of Architecture at the University of Melbourne. She was inspired to design an experimental piece for someone who is constantly on the move, that relied on strength and gravity rather than welding or joining methods. 

Intersect by Sara Tan

Fads come and go, trends flounder, but good design lasts forever. Internationally recognised designer Laura McCusker presented a talk on authenticity, differentiation and sustainability in a world often disposed to the flavour of the month. This is a conversation that spans many industries, with our collective propensity to be drawn to accessible and affordable design fast becoming an epidemic. 

Described by David Walsh as his ‘furniture designer of choice,’ McCusker has been commissioned locally by MONA, Hobart City Council and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Her designs eschew globalisation in favour of individuality and custom design and the conversation surrounding the affordability and flexibility of this process is of huge importance and relevance and a major element of sustainability at Fringe Furniture 33. 

Established as an experimental playground, Fringe Furniture is a standout exhibition of emerging and market- ready design. It has provided a platform for artists and designers to exhibit their work for 33 years, making it one of the longest running design events in Australia. 

Written by Tiffany Jade.

Feature image of Drafters Stool by Duncan Young.

Fringe Furniture 33
12 September – 29 September
Open Wednesday to Sunday 11am – 5pm
Abbotsford Convent, Rosina Auditorium
1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

Public programs:
Artist-led Tours on Sun 15 Sept, Sun 22 Sept and Sun 29 Sept, 3pm, Free
Tactile Tours on Wed 25 Sept and Sat 28 Sept at 11am, Free

melbournefringe.com.au