Raw and Refined is an exhibition of new work by established contemporary jeweller Phoebe Porter exploring the dualities of raw and worked, natural and cultural, and material and meaning. The project explores refinement both as an artistic act, distilling ideas and forms to their essence, and as a material process in which raw elements are transformed to become workable.
For this series, Porter contrasts unaltered natural specimens, including native gold and uncut gemstones, with precision-made components refined by mining, alloying, cutting and finishing. Through careful construction methods, the natural materials are preserved in their original state, creating a striking conceptual and visual dialogue between the raw and highly refined elements.
This exhibition asks what makes jewellery truly precious. Beyond material rarity, Porter considers the importance of artistic intent, skilled craftsmanship and personal meaning. The exhibition positions the handmade as an act of creative dissent: insisting on skill, deliberation and intentionality, and highlighting the cultural value of thoughtful design.
Presented in the departures lounge at Canberra Airport, a light-filled contemporary space designed by Canberra architectural practice Guida Moseley Brown, the exhibition highlights Canberra's distinctive design culture to a national and international audience. The venue provides a fitting context for an exhibition exploring the origins of materials and Australian identity through design.