Planting their seed in the art world

BY GEORGIA MASON-COX

Austalia’s unusual native plants have often inspired wonder, but for gay Sydney artists Scott Cardamatis and Joseph Saad it is their hard wooden seed casings which capture the essence of the Australian landscape.
By shaping the raw materials of the bush into art, the couple create organic pieces that are visually exciting and environmentally responsible.
All our works make a statement of originality and demonstrate a public commitment towards environmental sustainability, Saad said.
In every art work we create, the seed casings used are sourced from conservation programs coordinated by organisations including Greening Australia, Conservation and Land Management, Men of the Trees and many other community conservation organisations.
In the beginning the pair approached licensed native seed collectors in Western Australia and NSW to acquire discarded seed casings. From there they were linked up with some of the country’s most important conservation programs.
When they get a chance the couple also likes to source the materials themselves.
Australia’s unique native plants, shaped by fire and drought provide unquestionably the most extraordinary and diverse array of hard, wooden seed casings seen anywhere in the world, Saad said.
By collecting these rare and unusual seed casings from across Australia we provided ourselves with a diverse range of unique raw materials that truly captured the essence of the Australian bush.
Their designs incorporate the varied aspects of the Australian landscape, and each artwork tells a story based on the origins of the native plant casings used.
Saad said occasionally the colour and texture of the materials suggest a story, while at other times he and Cardomatis let their imaginations run wild.
Certain seed cases help us create the style and other times we have a planned theme that we work on, he said.
What started as a hobby for the men has become a business, and the two now run a gallery in Darlinghurst.
info: To find out more visit ausecoart.com.au