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Issue 60 - The Kitchen and Bathroom Issue

Issue 60

The Kitchen and Bathroom Issue

HABITUS has always stood ahead of the rest with a dedicated Kitchen and Bathroom issue of exemplar standards. For issue 60 we have taken it up a notch with our Guest Editor the extraordinary, queen of kitchen design, Sarah-Jane Pyke of Arent&Pyke, speaking directly to Kitchen and Bathroom design with some increadable insights.

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Finding nuance in QT Newscastle’s art curation
Design StoriesGillian Serisier

Finding nuance in QT Newscastle’s art curation

Sophie Vander brings her signature vision to QT Newcastle’s art curation, drawing on the concept of a rising moon.


Responding to Nic Graham and Associates’ interior for the new QT Newcastle, art curator Sophie Vander came into the project having worked with Graham previously on QT Melbourne: “He’s just such a joy to work with. He’s just a creative, bundle of energy. So it was great to collaborate with him later in the project. He already had the vision but didn’t have the actual artists or artworks in mind,” says Vander.

Taking her cue from Graham’s conceptual starting point of the moon, Vander explored the brief to include tides, the push and pull of the moon and the romantic ideal of the moon rising over Newcastle Beach. Moreover, Vander is an unafraid curator with a broad knowledge of art and artists, as such her selection is focused on content and appropriateness to both placement and thematic nuance.

This is not a selection of black and white moon and seaside photography. Rather, Vander has selected artists of significance such as Marion Borgelt, emerging artists such as Theresa Hunt, Tracey Lamb and Daniel O’Toole, and the newly established artists really making a name for themselves such as Kate Banazi and Ryan Hoffman.

Sophie Vander for QT Newcastle

Borgelt’s work is particularly beautiful and while wholly appropriate to the brief, is subtle and refined. It is also entirely consistent to her oeuvre, touching on movement, time and energy: “Her overarching general theme about the moon goes throughout her work, but that particular piece was exactly perfect for where it was going to be placed,” says Vander.

It is important to note that while Vander has her own gallery, Curatorial+Co., she sourced work as needed, including the Borgelt from Sally Dan Cuthbert Gallery: “We worked with Sally to source that particular work, which was also a great experience for us,” says Vander.

The piece by Ryan Hoffman, who shows with Liverpool Street Gallery in Sydney and Sophie Gannon Gallery in Melbourne, will easily be the most Instagrammed. Large, colourful and dynamically realised as a concave disk, the work is both strong and energetically engaged with the space.

For Vander the choice was easy: “That was actually the starting piece for the whole collection. Nic had suggested a concave glowing work,” says Vander, who immediately thought of Hoffman. Working with Graham at about mid-point in the QT design, she was able to commission the work in colours specific to the space: “We came up with this hot pink, which certainly is a showstopper. So as soon as you walk through the front door, you see that placed, but it also has this beautiful reflection when you look up,” says Vander of QT’s mirrored ceiling.

Sophie Vander for QT Newcastle

Commissioning a large seascape by Theresa Hunt for the main restaurant, the theme was again an existing motif of the artist. Having worked in film for many years as a producer there exists a cinematic quality to her painting in its saturated coloured and edgy mood.

“The moon and moonlight are a constant in all her work, so she felt like a really great fit for this whole project being moon themed without being too obvious,” says Vander, who also represents this artist, as well as Susie Dureau. Dureau’s work is another natural fit with the ocean, clouds and mountains being her primary subjects. Dureau worked with a neon fabricator to pair a flash of glass neon with her wild seascapes, which have been realised as a series of tondos (round paintings) that pivot from wall to ceiling.

Vander’s curation for this project is in fact exceedingly good as is her commitment to having the industry invest in good art, she states: “Guys, you need to invest in these young artists: we can do the whole space for you investing in emerging artists for far less than what you’d pay for renting over the course of five years. It’s so important.”

Curatorial+Co.
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We think you might like to read about QT Melbourne

Sophie Vander for QT Newcastle
Sophie Vander for QT Newcastle
Sophie Vander for QT Newcastle

About the Author

Gillian Serisier

Gillian Serisier is the editor of both Habitus and Indesign print publications, where she covers all corners of architecture, design and art. Working with guest editors across architecture, interior designer and product designer, Gillian is focusing a varied gaze on the design world. Moreover, Gillian's extensive knowledge and sharp words make for compelling storytelling.

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BorgeltCuratorial+Co.Daniel O’TooleKate BanaziMarion BorgeltNic Graham and AssociatesQT NewcastleRyan HoffmanSally Dan Cuthbert GallerySophie Vander


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Issue 60 - The Kitchen and Bathroom Issue

Issue 60

The Kitchen and Bathroom Issue

HABITUS has always stood ahead of the rest with a dedicated Kitchen and Bathroom issue of exemplar standards. For issue 60 we have taken it up a notch with our Guest Editor the extraordinary, queen of kitchen design, Sarah-Jane Pyke of Arent&Pyke, speaking directly to Kitchen and Bathroom design with some increadable insights.

Order Issue