Strange Materials: Jewellery, Fungi and the Art of Curiosity
Location
Du Cane Brewing
About
Award winning artist and jeweller Emma Bugg works at the intersection of traditional jewellery techniques and experimental materials. Her practice is driven by curiosity, exploring how objects can carry stories about place, ecology and connection.
Fungi are one of many sources of inspiration in her work, offering strange and beautiful forms as well as new ways of thinking about networks, collaboration and the hidden systems that support life.
Through jewellery, sculpture and speculative design, Emma experiments with materials and ideas that challenge the boundaries of contemporary jewellery. One of her recent fungi-inspired works was selected as a finalist in the 2025 MAKE Award at the Australian Design Centre.
In this talk, Emma shares stories from her studio practice, from unusual materials and unexpected collaborations to the imaginative worlds that can grow from a single idea.
Fungi are one of many sources of inspiration in her work, offering strange and beautiful forms as well as new ways of thinking about networks, collaboration and the hidden systems that support life.
Through jewellery, sculpture and speculative design, Emma experiments with materials and ideas that challenge the boundaries of contemporary jewellery. One of her recent fungi-inspired works was selected as a finalist in the 2025 MAKE Award at the Australian Design Centre.
In this talk, Emma shares stories from her studio practice, from unusual materials and unexpected collaborations to the imaginative worlds that can grow from a single idea.