Step Inside the Colourful, Kaleidoscopic World of Kate Rohde: A Studio Visit
There is nothing quite like the energy of an artist’s studio, especially when it involves the kaleidoscopic world of contemporary visual artist, Kate Rohde.
At Pieces of Eight we celebrate the messy, brilliant, and technical process that happens long before an object or item of jewellery reaches our gallery. We recently had the pleasure of visiting Kate Rohde's Melbourne studio to discuss her crafting process & love of colour, along with an exciting sneak peek at new resin vessels coming soon!
Kate Rohde works on creating a new vase design inspired by a magnolia tree, first carving the form in sculpting plasticine.
PO8: Your aesthetic is wonderfully rich and often references historical ornamentation. How do you translate these grand, classical inspirations into your work?
KR: I think it's about taking the essence of these historical styles and reworking it through a contemporary lens. To me, Baroque, Rococo and Art Nouveau are characterised by dynamic lines, organic shapes, asymmetry and motifs from nature. I'm also not good at being precise and perfect so these elements suit my nature, as things can be a bit looser and less refined.
PO8: You have an extraordinary relationship with colour. Please tell us more about how you have developed your use of colour over the years and what you’re most drawn to.
KR: Personally, I'm most drawn to very bright, lurid colours. Probably my favourite combination is aqua, hot pink and fluoro yellow, which also create a bit of a crazy rainbow effect when they're poured. Just about all the pieces I've kept for myself are some version of this combination. In general through I try to be experimental and not overthink it, trying out various pigments and seeing what happens. Colour is very subjective so even though a particular combination might not appeal to me, someone else always seems to like it.
PO8: In an era of mass production, your pieces feel like modern relics. Can you tell us about a specific technique or process you employ that makes each piece truly one-of-a-kind?
KR: Because every piece is handmade they end up having tiny variations which make them unique. Even if it's the same colour combination, the colours always end up landing differently due to the randomness of the pouring. Sometimes the ambient temperature in my studio can affect it, making the setting faster or slower, meaning the colours blend to a greater or lesser extent.
Visit us in the gallery to see current pieces by Kate Rohde, or explore her collection online.
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