Barry's TV Cabinet

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND This creative work participates in 'Object Therapy', a collaborative project between Hotel Hotel, UNSW Art & Design and ANU School of Art and Design. Object Therapy explores creative transformations and notions of value and repair. The project asked members of the public to submit objects for 'therapy' - 30 objects were submitted. These objects were then given to prominent Australian and international artists and designers for 'repair'. I was given Barry's 1970's colour TV which I transformed into a localised TV transmitter, broadcasting Australian TV programs and commercials from 1977. This object was exhibited alongside other repaired objects at Hotel Hotel and in a national touring exhibition. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION The research continues my involvement in the remaking and repair of consumer goods - previous works include IKEA Recovery Workshop (2012), the Repair Workshops (2011) and iPod Social Outreach Program (2006). In remaking Barry's TV as a transmitter the project engages with a nostalgic dimension to object ownership exploring how this immaterial dimension is grounded in material specificities linked to intimate user experiences. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE The project received significant press coverage from online design blogs, the international AJ+ online and ABC television and radio. The project was the topic of a public panel discussion at UNSW. Object Therapy is supported by Arts NSW, the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian State and Territory Governments and Visions of Australia Funding, a Federal Government initiative. The exhibition is touring nationally appearing at the Australian Design Centre, Design Tasmania, South Australian School of Art, and numerous regional galleries.