Sweet Idea: Wrappers Turned Into Intricate Artworks

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 118 months ago

Last Updated 23 March 2015

Sweet Idea: Wrappers Turned Into Intricate Artworks ★★★☆☆ 3
The most impressive work in the show, an array of detailed busts made from chocolate wrappers. Copyright Joanne Tinker
The most impressive work in the show, an array of detailed busts made from chocolate wrappers. Copyright Joanne Tinker
Foil wrappers can also be used to create these deep colourful circles. Copyright Joanne Tinker
Foil wrappers can also be used to create these deep colourful circles. Copyright Joanne Tinker
A massive cabinet of goblets. The detail up close is impressive. Copyright Joanne Tinker
A massive cabinet of goblets. The detail up close is impressive. Copyright Joanne Tinker
A detailed view of goblets made from wrappers that have been finished off with a singeing. Copyright Joanne Tinker
A detailed view of goblets made from wrappers that have been finished off with a singeing. Copyright Joanne Tinker
This array of chairs is made from wine cages contorted so the wires becomes the frame and the lid the seat. Copyright Joanne Tinker
This array of chairs is made from wine cages contorted so the wires becomes the frame and the lid the seat. Copyright Joanne Tinker
Sweet wrappers have also be used to create a field of poppies. Copyright Joanne Tinker
Sweet wrappers have also be used to create a field of poppies. Copyright Joanne Tinker

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

It's a nice feeling to delicately unwrap a chocolate, and though it feels a shame to throw away the foil wrapper, what exactly can you do with it? Well, artist Joanne Tinker constructs hers into intricate sculptures such as a field of poppies or a display cabinet filled with goblets. We have no idea how long this takes but we imagine it's a painstaking process.

The most impressive work in Joanna Tinker: Collections is a set of busts where the facial features are so well modelled, each one has a personality of its own. It's also rewarding just trying to identify which sweet wrappers have been used to make up which works.

There's more good news: visitors to the first few days of the exhibition will be able to help the artist by carefully unwrapping the sweets in the gallery and leaving the wrapper for Tinker to use in future artworks — yes, you get to eat the chocolate!

Not just satisfied with sweet wrappers, Tinker has also crafted sets of chairs from wine cages — they've been inventively contorted so the lid becomes the seat of the chair, and the wire the frame.

Groundbreaking it may not be, but this is an exhibition choc-full with creativity, and it's hard not to love these works for their recycling credentials too.

Joanne Tinker: Collections is on at Woolff Gallery, 89 Charlotte St, W1T 4PU until 24 April. Entrance is free.

For more art to see in London, visit our 10 most talked about and top 10 openings for March.

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