Jeweller Samantha Dennis is turning heads in the world of art and design with her provocative creations that incorporate unconventional materials. Her latest collection features intricate jewellery fashioned from toad intestines, questioning societal hierarchies related to value and aesthetics. This unique approach not only challenges perceptions of beauty but also invites viewers to reconsider how we value different forms of life and materials.
Dennis, a veterinary nurse from Tasmania, showcases her work in the National Gallery of Victoria as part of the Rigg Design Prize, Australia’s most prestigious design award, valued at $40,000. Her pieces, nestled within a porcelain toad-shaped case, juxtapose pearls and gold charms against the backdrop of what many consider undesirable animals. “In Western society, these animals are seen as lesser or vermin,” Dennis explains. “I’m interested in what it means to make these hierarchies.”
Exploring Materiality and Emotion
The jewellery, part of Dennis’s “Anatomy Lessons” series, critiques the emotional responses elicited by different settings. She notes that the same animal can evoke varied reactions depending on whether it is encountered in a museum, a classroom, or on the roadside. Dennis’s work seeks to explore these shifting dynamics, highlighting how the context can alter our emotional and aesthetic perceptions.
The Rigg Design Prize aims to spotlight emerging talent, and this year’s winner, Alfred Lowe, is a testament to that mission. The South Australian ceramicist’s work, titled “You and Me, Us Never Part,” draws inspiration from the Central Desert landscape and is described as a “declaration of love to my community.” NGV curator Simone LeAmon emphasizes the prize’s focus on under-35 designers who demonstrate innovative contributions to their fields.
Other notable participants include Hamish Donaldson, a glassmaker who melds ancient techniques with modern design. His series “Gnostalgia” features bottles that embody the alchemical triad of salt, mercury, and sulphur. Donaldson’s work reflects his fascination with transformation and the unseen forces of sound. “Temples have been a large inspiration for my work,” he shares, noting the deep connections between alchemy, sound, and glassmaking.
Sustainability and Innovation in Design
The Rigg Prize also highlights a commitment to sustainability among young designers. Douglas Powell, an industrial designer from Western Australia, creates inflatable furniture, transforming heavy metals into lightweight pieces. His innovative approach repurposes industrial techniques, allowing for experimental designs that celebrate unexpected forms. “I can’t model this in a computer. It’s a constant experiment,” Powell states.
Ceramicists Nathan Nhan and Kohl Tyler further exemplify this trend. Nhan’s work often pushes the limits of clay, creating expressive forms that reflect his psychological state, while Tyler’s “Vessels for the By and By” series draws on deep geological time and the ephemeral nature of life.
Sustainability is a central theme in the works of Isaac Williams, who recycles pine pallets into furniture. His “Rebirthed Pallet Dine” chair exemplifies how waste can be transformed into valuable design. Similarly, the Sydney-based design team Second Edition focuses on recycling materials from the construction industry, aiming to divert waste from landfills.
The Rigg Design Prize 2025 exhibition, titled “Next in Design: 35 under 35,” runs from September 19, 2025, to February 2026. It features twelve designers who will discuss their work at the gallery on September 20. The event showcases a diverse range of innovative approaches to design, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and the exploration of materials in contemporary art.
Through her work and that of her contemporaries, Dennis not only challenges traditional views on materials and aesthetics but also prompts a broader conversation about the role of design in addressing ecological and societal issues. The Rigg Design Prize continues to be a platform for these vital discussions, fostering a new generation of designers committed to making meaningful contributions to their fields.
