Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists
Facilitator: Mal Wood
Dates: 24 Nov - 8 Dec 2025
Location: Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists
1. Project Overview
Over ten half-day workshops at Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists, I introduced participating artists to working with plasticine as a sculptural medium. Three of the four artists present during this period engaged deeply with the process. Working in small groups allowed for significant one-to-one support, enabling the development of tailored methodologies suited to the different abilities, communication styles, and creative approaches of each artist.
The artists brought valuable existing skills through their experience in ceramics, primarily drawing onto pre-rolled clay slabs and glazing, as well as earlier work with papier-mâché sculpture. This foundation supported a smooth transition into plasticine, while offering exciting new possibilities for three-dimensional expression.
Billy Kenda
Artist Outcomes
Billy demonstrated a strong eagerness to work in full three dimensions. Across the two weeks, he created a large body of work based on subjects from his paintings, including a bus, four-wheel drive, ute, house, aliens, camels, horses, and dogs. We worked collaboratively: after selecting an image from his paintings, I constructed a suitable armature and Billy sculpted the form in plasticine.
He worked independently and tirelessly throughout the program. Three of his sculptures were moulded and cast in gypsum, which he hand-painted to completion, producing three exhibition-ready works.
Adrian Robertson
Artist Outcomes
Adrian’s portraits and landscapes translated exceptionally well into low-relief sculpture. Although mostly non-verbal, his communication was clear and purposeful, and together we developed a method that effectively conveyed his visual language in plasticine.
I prepared plywood boards with a smooth layer of plasticine, and Adrian used a needle tool to draw his imagery into the surface. I assisted by building up plasticine along his forms—mountain ranges, figures, and other elements—after which he refined and textured these areas. His works went through multiple cycles of addition and subtraction until the relief matched his precise mental image.
Adrian always knew when a piece was finished, and he expressed strong satisfaction upon achieving his intended outcome. He was also extremely prolific, producing up to four low-relief works in each three-hour session. Four of these were moulded and cast in resin, and he was delighted with the final pieces.
Lizzie Trew
Artist Outcomes
I worked with Lizzie across three sessions. She has a bold and distinctive drawing style, often centred on planets, ghosts, weather patterns, and expressive text. She enjoys collaborative processes, and together we selected images from her sketchbook to develop in low relief.
Although she needed encouragement to begin, Lizzie quickly became engaged and produced two completed low-relief works that were moulded and cast in resin. Her signature bubble text translated especially well into three-dimensional form. In her own words, “I love it,” which she repeated several times during the workshops—a clear reflection of her enjoyment and confidence in the process.
