Bruce [cabinet on stand]

Khai Liew, designer
Malaysia/Australia
1952 – 11 December 2023

Bruce Nuske, ceramist
Australia
1949

Bruce [cabinet on stand]
from the series Collec+tors
2010
American white oak, porcellaneous stoneware, sgraffito decoration
Currently on display, Gallery 6
Place made
cabinet: Norwood, South Australia
Medium
American white oak, porcellaneous stoneware, sgraffito decoration
Dimensions
130.0 x 212.0 x 50.0 cm
Credit line
Gift of Michael Armitage, Susan Armitage, Philip Bacon AM, Colin and Robyn Cowan, Julian and Stephanie Grose, Andrew and Hiroko Gwinnett, Jim and Andrea Katsaros, Diana Laidlaw AM, Sonia Laidlaw, Macquarie Group Foundation, David McKee, Pam McKee, Jillian Russell, Peter and Mary Sutherland, Janet Worth to the Collec+ors Appeal through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2012
Accession number
20124F7A
Signature and date
Cabinet and tiles not signed, not dated.
Media category
Furniture
Collection area
Australian decorative arts and design
Copyright
Courtesy the artist
Image credit
Photos: Grant Hancock

  • This cabinet, titled Bruce [cabinet on stand], is the central work in furniture designer Khai Liew’s seminal Collec+tors series, the series itself a consequence of

    a visit made by Liew and the renowned South Australian ceramicist Bruce Nuske to London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Six exquisite collaborations by Liew with some of the most important Australian craftspeople of the early twenty-first century make up the series, these individuals including Julie Blyfield, Prue Venables, Kirsten Coelho, Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, Jessica Loughlin and, of course, Bruce Nuske.

     

    This cabinet combines Liew’s refined, yet simple, contemporary aesthetic in furniture with Nuske’s stoneware, resulting in a harmonious exchange of ideas and style. Liew has used silvery American white oak, which enhances the pallor of Nuske’s pale stoneware tiles. The simple sgraffito details of the tiles acknowledge the fine grain and simple form of the wooden cabinet.

     

    The entire Collec+tors series of six works was acquired by the Gallery in 2012.

     

    Rebecca Evans, Curator of Decorative Arts & Design

     

  • [Book] 2011 Brit Insurance design of the year awards.
  • [Book] Liew, Khai, Walker, Wendy. Collec+ors.
  • [Journal] Articulate.
  • [Book] AGSA 500.
  • Khai Liew (designer) 1952 – 11 December 2023 , Bruce Nuske (ceramist) 1949

    Bruce [cabinet on stand]

    2010
    American white oak, porcellaneous stoneware, sgraffito decoration
    Accession no: 20124F7A
    On display, Gallery 6
  • Khai Liew (designer) 1952 – 11 December 2023 , Gwyn Hanssen Pigott (ceramist) 1935 – 2013

    Gwyn [serving table]

    2010
    Queensland blackbean, kangaroo hide, waxed linen, porcelain
    Accession no: 20124F5A(a-h)
  • Khai Liew (designer) 1952 – 11 December 2023 , Jessica Loughlin (glass artist) 1975

    Jessica [screen]

    2010
    European limewood, glass
    Accession no: 20124F6A
  • Khai Liew (designer) 1952 – 11 December 2023 , Julie Blyfield (jeweller) 1957

    Julie [cabinet on stand]

    2010
    Queensland blackbean, silver
    Accession no: 20124F3A
  • Khai Liew (designer) 1952 – 11 December 2023 , Kirsten Coelho (ceramist) 1966

    Kirsten [armchair]

    2010
    American white oak, linen, porcelain
    Accession no: 20124F4A(a-e)
    On display, Gallery 6
  • Khai Liew (designer) 1952 – 11 December 2023 , Prue Venables (ceramist) 1954

    Prue [cupboard]

    2010
    Canadian rock maple, porcelain
    Accession no: 20124F8A