Perth Voice Interactive

IT may be part of kids’ festival Awesome, but there’s a dark underbelly to the whimsical Matter of Factory exhibition.

Cardboard, wood, straw, mechanics, sound equipment and ipads have gone into creating a colourfully childish version of Terry Pratchett’s steam-punk inventions.

Textile artist Cat Rabbit’s felt sausages become sausage dogs, and thanks to mate Isobel Knowles’ film-making and animation they’re soon romping in a garden, barking playfully.

The curious puppies discover a hole, down which they disappear to become sausages on a supermarket tray, their sad little eyes gazing out from behind plastic wrap, a sign saying “$2.99”.

“People don’t expect to feel sad at ridiculous little felt sausages on a shelf, but they do,” Knowles says.

There are three parts to the factory production, stage one is a conveyor belt going around, in stage two wildly improbably machinery attaches eyes, legs and ears to create little sausage dogs, and in stage three they are cut into pieces.

Despite its appeal to young viewers, Matter of Factory explores the tensions between industrialisation and handcrafts to present the mass fabrication of the ultimate in designer pets and designer meats—the sausage dog. “This was…in response to our fear of food industrialisation and overproduction,” Knowles says. “We’re not actually against sausages…Sausages are the food that uses up the scraps, which is a good thing. But there is an overproduction in all walks of industry and it’s terrifying.”

Industrialisation has impacted on artisan objects such as the curious creatures Cat Rabbit creates. With many artists looking to China to produce previously handcrafted works the pressure is on those remaining true to their craft, Knowles says.

“People’s idea of value has gone haywire. Cat sits there for hours making these things.”

Knowles and Cat Rabbit have produced two books Owl Know How and Too Much for Turtle.

Matter of Factory is on at Turner Galleries, 470 William Street, Northbridge until October 10. Gallery hours Tues–Sat 11am–5pm

by JENNY D’ANGER