IKEA Recovery Workshop

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: 'IKEA Recovery Workshop' was a public workshop and exhibition of constructed works within the exhibition 'Swedish for Argument' curated by Holly Williams, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Gallery. Building on Mitchell's exploration of hacking and modding practices within contemporary consumer culture, this work extends previous workshop events such: as 'The Repair Workshops', State of Design Festival, Melbourne (2011); 'iPod Social Outreach Program', Uplands Gallery, Melbourne (2006); and 'FIX', CLUBSproject Inc., Melbourne (2004). RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: The IKEA Recovery Workshop raises questions of commodity value and the consumers' alienation from material culture. Positioning consumption as a productive act, the work explores tactics that may be deployed to reshape material culture and promote consumer agency. The workshop activated these questions within the UTS design school and the visiting public. Material outcomes from the workshop were exhibited alongside other works within the exhibition by Australian and international artists including Guy Ben-Ner, Helmut Smits and Emma White. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: Mitchell was an invited participant in an international show held at UTS Gallery (the gallery is a member of University Art Museums Australia). The workshop directly engaged with participants including the general public and UTS staff and students, promoting conversations around object reuse and consumer agency. The project was referenced in 'RealTime magazine' by Ella Mudle, issue #113 Feb-March 2013 p. 47. 'RealTime' is supported by the New South Wales Government through Arts NSW and by the Federal Government (via the Australia Council for the Arts). It was also covered by online art journal 'Das Platforms Emerging & Contemporary Art' by David Greenhalgh