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Artwork for Your Art, Unlocked
Your Art, Unlocked · July 21 · 20 min

Nina Saunders’ decorative dustpan at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester 

In this episode of Your Art, Unlocked, art historian, writer and educator Melissa Baksh visits Pallant House Gallery in Chichester to unlock a subversive sculpture by artist Nina Saunders. This object resembles a dustpan but it’s covered in a rich red and gold fabric, and it appears soft rather than sturdy. It feels both familiar and strange – but what exactly is it and what era does it belong to? Turns out it has a lot to do with the Victorian designer William Morris and his belief that ordinary household objects should be both useful and beautiful. Melissa talks to Nina about her love of Morris and why she can't stop transforming furniture, while Miriam O’Connor Perks, curator at Pallant House Gallery, explains how this unsettling sculpture came about. This is your art in your museums and galleries, so let's get to know it a little better. Your Art, Unlocked is produced by Art UK and supported by Bloomberg Connects. Producers: Imelda Barnard and Maria Clara Montoya Music credits: Gitano Waltz by Art Flower, Free Music Archive (CC0 1.0)

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show notes

In this episode of Your Art, Unlocked, art historian, writer and educator Melissa Baksh visits Pallant House Gallery in Chichester to unlock a subversive sculpture by artist Nina Saunders.

This object resembles a dustpan but it’s covered in a rich red and gold fabric, and it appears soft rather than sturdy. It feels both familiar and strange – but what exactly is it and what era does it belong to? Turns out it has a lot to do with the Victorian designer William Morris and his belief that ordinary household objects should be both useful and beautiful.

Melissa talks to Nina about her love of Morris and why she can't stop transforming furniture, while Miriam O’Connor Perks, curator at Pallant House Gallery, explains how this unsettling sculpture came about.

This is your art in your museums and galleries, so let's get to know it a little better.

Your Art, Unlocked is produced by Art UK and supported by Bloomberg Connects.

Producers: Imelda Barnard and Maria Clara Montoya

Music credits: Gitano Waltz by Art Flower, Free Music Archive (CC0 1.0)

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