Sydney artist Sarah Goffman turns trash into treasure with her new exhibition

Sydney artist Sarah Goffman’s new exhibition showcases recycled replicas (bottom shelf) of already existing pieces (top shelf). Photo: Jarryd Rowley.

The National Art Glass Gallery’s new recycled plastics exhibition Precious by Sydney artist Sarah Goffman will open on 15 July.

The new collection focuses on recycled plastic materials that have been used to create replicas of already existing artworks.

“I mainly work in garbage and trash, found materials,” Sarah said.

“I really love seeing work that other people have made and making a copy of it out of materials that I have found.

“Plastic is free and lightweight, it’s just something that we throw away and designate as garbage. For me, it’s a way of converting something that is considered trash and turning it into a treasured commodity.”

Sarah created the replicas in her Sydney-based home by looking at images of the original pieces that were already on show at the glass gallery.

“When you’re copying something, you really look at it and concentrate hard on all of the fine details,” she said.

“When you’re just a normal art viewer, you just glance at something, but when you’re copying it, you’ve got to really study it.

“It’s just like being in the shoes of other artists.”

Sarah said the idea of single-use plastics was something that was really alarming and was clearly causing damage to different parts of the planet.

By using single-use plastics in a unique way she is able to give something that would be considered garbage, a second life.

“We all know about the harms of plastics, it’s choking the planet,” Sarah said.

“By making plastic a convenient material that can be used again and again, it’s my way of helping reduce waste.”

While not being inspired by one particular theme, Sarah said her art was a special way in which she was able to express herself.

“There is something about me in each of my works regardless of how small or how big it is,” she said.

“I was asked by the director of the museum, Lee-Anne Hall, to bring my works here and I was more than happy to do so.

“Art is something people can look at and get lost in, it means something new to each person. I’d love to see people come down and visit, it’s free and it’s fun.”

Sarah’s Precious exhibition will remain at the National Art Glass Gallery until 14 January 2024.