Exhibitions Hannah Quinlivan Bound by the Sky 20th May 2025 - 14th June 2025

This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2025, an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

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Canberra-based artist-maker Hannah Quinlivan is well known for her expansive, intricately woven installations. Using industrial, ubiquitous material such perspex, rubber, aluminium, and steel her undulating, interconnected forms transform urban spaces into dynamic, contemplative environments. Created through processes of manual manipulation and mechanical interventions her sculptural forms function as complex, multifaceted three-dimensional drawings. Evoking ideas of fragility and resilience, patience and contemplation, Quinlivan’s work blurs the boundaries between fine art, design, and architecture - their complex multimedia structures being rich in texture, light and shadow.

Bound by the Sky explores humanity’s profound yet understated connections to the natural world, focusing on the fragile interplay between human activity and environmental stability. As a motif the sky is a symbol of boundlessness, but also a site that bears the weight of human accountability. The exhibition aims to serve as both a unifying force and a stark reminder of our shared ecological and political realities. Through this lens, Quinlivan’s work is neither purely observational nor solely metaphysical. It delves into our collective condition, highlighting the urgency of addressing environmental fragility and human interconnectedness in the face of our interwoven futures.

Combining industrial design processes of cutting and forming with dexterous, manual processes of hand-threading, knitting, and weaving, Quinlivan creates immersive, atmospheric works that embody the vast beauty of the atmosphere and its burden as a repository of human impact.

A series of sculptural installation will be suspended from the gallery ceiling, interrupt the boundaries between space and form. Emitting light, cast shadows, and creating a softening of architectural boundaries, her works invite viewers into a series of organic, fluid environments. Wall-mounted works will also be present, traversing the hard lines of constructed spaces. By integrating these forms into the built environment, Quinlivan reimagines the urban as something organic, interdependant and transformational.

By transforming industrial materials into organic, immersive forms, Quinlivan’s work challenges conventional notions of materiality and space, encouraging reflection on the fragile ties that bind us all.

This exhibition underscores the importance of ecological responsibility within the context of urban design and environmental sensitivity. Quinlivan’s practice mirrors the challenges faced by architects and designers as they navigate material choices and spatial planning while grappling with issues of sustainability. Her works serve as both a meditation on beauty and a call to action, urging viewers to consider the atmospheric and environmental impact of human activity.

Through her installations, Quinlivan highlights the sky as both an expansive symbol of unity and a repository of human impact. Her work draws attention to how our built environments contribute to or mitigate environmental degradation, inviting audiences to reflect on their role in shaping a more sustainable future. Engaging within the wider discourse of Melbourne Design Week, the exhibition aims to reach architects, designers, and the broader community, promoting an ethos of accountability and ecological awareness that balances aesthetic beauty with urgent environmental design considerations.

Bound by the Sky ultimately seeks to create a space where beauty, urgency, and accountability converge. It invites audiences to contemplate the interconnectedness of their own lives with the natural world and to reimagine the possibilities of thoughtful, sustainable design in addressing our collective ecological challenges.

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Hannah Quinlivan Sculptural Form 2024

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