Cashmere Malekitsch
resilience theme
body dysmorphia [bɒdi dis-ˈmȯr-fē-ə]
about
Cashmere Malekitsch is an object oriented art and design studio facilitated by Darius Rust in Narrm (Melbourne). Focusing mainly on gold and silversmithing, the studio acts as a platform for varying forms of sculptural research and adornment. Cashmere Malekitch jewellery studio does not use mined stones unless they follow the following criteria:
- The stone is recycled from a generational hand down
- The stone is used for the purpose of lab grown stone/mined stone comparison
Animal based equivalent gemstones like pearls or coral are also not used in the studio.
Darius Rust studied a Bachelor of Fine Art at RMIT University majoring in Ceramics. During their studies Darius began practicing under the pseudonyms Andrea Simmons, Robyn Delacroix, and Stevie Leslie (and formed the studio Cashmere Malekitsch.) Their work encompasses sculpture, pottery, jewellery, photography, 3D CAD renderings and 2D works traversing trauma, sexuality, camp, history, material ethics and the technological singularity. Darius is currently represented by Craft Victoria and Fletcher 64 and has exhibited works at Platform Gallery, Gertrude Contemporary, RMIT School of Art Gallery and Fort Delta.
statement for the future
“The world is ending but your outfit is fire. The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry after mining (UNCTAD) and after the technological singularity most jobs will be automated, we will rely heavily on creative industries for psychological and financial fulfilment. It is likely fashion will overtake mining when the world turns to renewable sources of energy. After covid I want to see the fashion industry develop a strict code of ethics towards pollution, waste and protection of indigenous groups. And for every brand to have a specific environmental or social effort that their practice specifically funds and researches to make the industry more ethical (10% of every sale at the very least should be going towards the environment/social causes). I hope for customers to demand that they know exactly where their materials come from and to be able to know if those materials were sources ethically and produced in hospitable working environments.”
connect
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object: crown of candles
photograph by: Myles Pedlar
about
COVID-19 perhaps brought about the most travel for Darius Rust of Cashmere Malekitsch as they relocated from the city to the country during the lockdown.
Adjusting to the running of a farm whilst simultaneously adapting their practice, Darius ruminated on themes surrounding the Trans Body Clock. Representing this internal travel of the trans body are candles cast from Darius’ body. In particular, Darius’ hands which represent their instrument for creation, as well the part of the body most visible to artists.
Similar to the traditions of making head masks immortalising the dead, these casts represent a capturing of the body that simultaneously enables a process of letting go. The process of making the candles enabled the creator to witness a form of death in making captures of a physical form that is forever in flux, transitioning with every second through age, creation, identity, experience, and wisdom.
These candles made from wax left over from jewellery making projects and drying clay offer the beholder the ceremony of saying goodbye to the parts of yourself that you can’t change. They are made from castings of Darius’ hands as well as Darius’ mother’s hands.
composition
100% wax
100% wax
made from
wax remnants
wax remnants
object: appendage candles
material
100% wax
100% wax
quantity
10
10
description:
Scattered pieces of wax candles, each unique and hand casted against silicone. Made from excess that is developed from the jewellry casting process.
Unscented. Approximate burn time: 2 hours.
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