marlo lyda transforms invasive weeds and stones into lamps, tables, and candle holders

turning (camphor), remnants, and fragments at useful objects

Marlo Lyda returns to Melbourne with her first solo exhibition at Useful Objects, bringing together recent bodies of work that productively explore unwanted materials, including a new collaboration with Melbourne’s Spacecraft. Three series of works form the core of the show: Turning (Camphor), Remnants, and Fragments.

Turning (Camphor) is a collection of turned timber objects, including lamps and candle holders, crafted from Camphor Laurel sourced from forest rehabilitation efforts in the Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales. A process of woodturning creates distinctive patterns that are further enhanced by charring the wood to blacken it and lacquer applied to seal it. Deemed an invasive species, the wood’s natural beauty is embraced and highlighted by the products. The exhibition will be on view until 14th September 2024.

all images courtesy of Useful Objects

marlo lyda revitalizes elements found in nature

In many East Asian countries, Camphor Laurel intertwines with tales of myth and medicine, its timber transformed into objects of beauty. Yet, along the eastern coast of Australia it is considered an invasive weed species: synonymous with the devastation of native landscapes, its timber is often overlooked, poisoned, or burnt where it stands. However, it is a resource capable of supporting native rehabilitation and sustainable forestry through mindful harvest. Especially for this exhibition, Sydney-based Marlo Lyda presents a collection complemented with a new collaboration with Stewart Russell of Spacecraft. Using charred Camphor Laurel as a pigment, they have created a suite of screen-printed linen products, comprising a curtain, apron, and bed set.

Marlo Lyda’s Remnants tables are each unique, with the designer elevating and celebrating the reclaimed stone through a careful repositioning. Designing each base around the unique form of the found shards, the tables form around the centrepiece of the stone. The sheer surface of the tabletop is contrasted with the delicate construction of the base and its copper detail. Extending the approach taken with Remnants, the Fragment Wall Light is crafted to harmonize with the unique shape of each recovered piece of onyx, Lyda’s signature detailing, characterized by asymmetric scaffolding and copper-bound cross sections. These elements are celebrated as part of the enduring character that Lyda perceives to be embedded within the stones she passionately collects, reimagines, and crafts.

Marlo Lyda returns to Melbourne with her first solo exhibition at Useful Objects