The Anerle-aneme chair – a collaboration by Alice Springs based designer Elliat Rich and the Aboriginal owned Centre for Appropriate Technology – was launched at the preview of Australia’s 2016 Venice Architectural Biennale exhibition, held recently at Icebergs, Bondi Beach.
Meaning ‘sit a little while’ in Arrernte, Anerle-aneme is designed for outdoor resilience, the chair captures the unique colours of this landscape; the vibrant blue of the sky, the ochre of the earth, the soft green vegetation and the shimmering silver grey of heat refracting light.
It is a perfect poolside addition for Australia’s new pavilion in Venice, telling a story of successful collaboration between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and between creative and technical expertise. It is also a recognition of the inspiration emanating from remote Australia, a place both central to our land and identity yet too often peripheral in our knowledge and imagination.
“The Anerle-aneme chair is a key part of our exhibition in Venice, “ said Isabelle Toland, one of the exhibition’s creative directors. “It is part of the poolside experience in and around the Australian pavilion as a place to sit and listen to the stories we have collected about the pool.
“It is a beautiful, simple and robust design that we feel particularly proud to be bringing to Venice for people to enjoy and admire as an incredible representation of Australian design, talent and skills.”
The companion publication (at right) to Australia’s Exhibition – The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity in Australia – was also launched at the event. The book explores the Australian affinity with the pool through narratives crafted by eight prominent Australians, including Olympian Ian Thorpe and author Anna Funder, who spoke at the Icebergs event.
Meanwhile, the chair will continue production as a furniture piece in its own right. It can be purchased directly through CAT.
Below: The NT Government helped send the team to Bondi for the event. From left CAT Enterprise Workshop staff Phil Coombe, Aaron Burdett, Peter Gleeson and Bruce Williams with designer Elliat Rich. This photo and top photo courtesy CAT; launch photos above by Alexander Mayes Photography.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
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Is this another taxpayer funded joke? Has anybody looked at, eg. Google “modern chairs”?
Surely there must something that my eye cannot see!
Great design – when are they going to be available in Alice Springs?