creativehistories

Visitors to Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough have been surprised and delighted to find the upstairs space in the gallery converted to an artist’s workplace. Amongst the current exhibition of industrial moulds and images from Maryborough’s past, artist Niels Ellmoos is working on his contribution to ‘Collective Insites’, a project that brings together local artists and historical collections.

‘Industrial archeology’ is the central theme of Niel’s art practice. He describes his contemporary artworks as a sort of ‘reimagining’ of history through objects.

On the West Coast of Tasmania he  interviewed  some of the old miners, and made video tapes, drawings  and sculptures that were inspired by Tasmania’s strong mining history

Niels current focus is on the industrial history of  Maryborough. It’s a rich and very interesting  part of the town’s past that has given him a lot of  material to work with, including the city’s large collection of industrial moulds and other industrial objects that are rarely on show to the public. Although they may originally have had mundane uses, some of these objects are beautiful sculptural pieces themselves.

Niels will be working as artist in residence  in the Gatakers Artspace. He’s happy to have visitors drop in and talk with him about what he’s doing and how his work is progressing. He’s already made contact with some of the colourful characters from Maryborough’s industrial past.

Moving the moulds from storage to the gallery

There are five local artists working on the Collective Insites project, which will open at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough  in May.