Join artists’ Minka Gillian, Alexi Freeman as they discuss their work in the Speculative Materialism exhibition at Craft + Design Canberra. The exhibition Speculative Materialism: Making for the Future engages with the complexities of being a material maker in a world where mass consumption and contemporary materiality plagues the health of the planet.

Artists’ Biographies

Minka Gillian

Minka Gillian is an Australian/Frisian artist, born in Canberra, raised in Tasmania. Primarily working with recycled materials, Gillian’s work is characterised by biomorphic installations using traditional domestic techniques, such as weaving, netting and crochet. She is interested in nature, the body and transforming the mundane into something intriguing and beautiful.

Alexi Freeman

Alexi Freeman is a Naarm-based artist known for pushing creative practice boundaries, underpinned by eco-design principles and interdisciplinary collaborations. Freeman's oeuvre blends artisanal craftsmanship with speculative materials resulting in wearable artefacts, architectural jewellery and sustainability research. His work has featured at cultural institutions including MONA, National

Image | Minka Gillian | Mind Garden 2024 | courtesy of the artist