When Melbourne-based artist Kerriann Noack began the search for a fire pit that would look beautiful in her garden all year round, she came away wanting more.
“I had seen plasma artists cutting designs into old shovels and saw blades, I was fascinated by the plasma and wanted to give it a try,” says Kerriann.
The idea to create her own fire pit was born and, choosing to work with a spherical shape, Kerriann began experimenting, “And haven't I looked back since,” she says.
Now from her company FireGlobes Australia, Kerriann creates bespoke sculptures to order – sometimes as fire pits, other times purely sculptural.
“The spherical shape is just a beautiful organic shape that flows so nicely and is perfect to sit around.”
Kerriann
Inspired by nature, Kerriann hand-draws every globe by sketching her intricate designs directly on to the fully formed metal orb. She then uses a plasma cutter to form a sort of metal lacework, where compressed air is forced through a small aperture and once the tip contacts the 6mm thick metal, arcs and cuts through to cut away at the design.
What’s left behind is a seemingly delicate, tantalising form with designs of fairytale scenes, fluttering leaves, dancing fauna. “There are no templates or stencils so each one is 100% unique and individual,” she says. Delicate to behold perhaps, but the wonder of Kerriann’s work lies as much in the intrinsic engineering skill employed to keep the sphere intact as it does in the stunning sculptural outcome.
On average a globe from beginning to end takes around 20-40 hours, depending on the size and design.
Visit fireglobesaustralia.com.au for more information.
