Yea artist’s patchwork sculptures have ‘a lot of history’

Native wildlife fills his walls, while his backyard is filled with objects, built in a patchwork style, made of salvaged metal.

“The ones with the patchwork are all made of old roofing iron from various buildings around Victoria,” Mr Gilbert said.

“I can almost identify each patch by what building it was on.

“Some of the corrugated iron is from just after the Second World War to now, so some of it’s really old — it’s got a lot of history.”

His sculptures feature the roofing of a church in Bendigo, old houses and even Yea cafe Marmalades.

Utilising these materials breathes in new life to old stories.

Mr Gilbert said sculptures had always been “an element” of his life, along with graphic design and drawing.

His passion evolved into his full-time work after he studied an Associate Diploma of Fine Arts at the University of Queensland.

Now, he spends his time creating commission work, hosting open studios, providing his work to outlets across the state and selling his intricate, thoughtful pieces.

His sculpture Circles, which now stands tall in his backyard, is set to soon be on display during the upcoming Regional Arts Group Euroa exhibition, which will feature sustainably created works from 30 creators.

He said he was proud to be part of an exhibition created by a fellow regional Victorian artist.

“I met Helen Brooke and we were talking about this about a year or so ago, so good on her and the crew for getting it off the ground because it’s a big, big, big thing,” Mr Gilbert said.

Circles was specially designed for the exhibition, which will feature 60 artworks of between 95 to 100 per cent recycled materials.

RAGE will take place from April 2 to 8 in galleries throughout Euroa.

For more information about the exhibition, visit www.rageeuroa.com.au

To find out more about Darren Gilbert and his artwork, visit his Facebook page or www.monkeytaildesign.com