Printing inspirational designs in his Melbourne studio, Stewart Russell has made a name for himself nostalgically experimenting with traditional techniques whilst seeking inspiration from contemporary art.
The Scottish textile-printing superstar has been a mainstay of Melbourne’s design scene since opening the Spacecraft studio back in 2000.
His Gertrude Street store, as much a space for exhibiting the variety of the products of the Spacecraft studio as a retail outlet, has become a design mecca for Melbournians.
Breathing vibrant colours and fresh designs into his printed pieces, Russell’s unique products range from cubic furnishings to black and white bed linen featuring photographic motifs of classic terraces.
The Spacecraft studio uses one print table covered with a ‘backing cloth’ for the sole purpose of experimenting with print development. Over time (and labour) the cloth accumulates the composite print images, which are subsequently mounted to become paintings. The layers-upon-layers of designs and colours make up the motifs – the ‘backing cloths’ capturing the energy of the Spacecraft style in a seemingly haphazard, but entirely harmonious fashion.
With the opening of his second store in Hawksburn, Russell has engaged his printing skills to design the interior. “It’s a very enjoyable part of opening a new store, creating the environment to show the artwork and products we make”.
Exploiting any opportunity to vent his inexhaustible creativity, Russell took an interactive approach for the November 12 store opening, making a collection of clothes for dressing up and turning the back room “into a kind of photography studio for the evening… inviting people to dress up and have their photograph taken, [each leaving] with a Polaroid of their new persona.”
Spacecraft Hawksburn 572 Malvern Rd, Prahran VIC 3181
Spacecraft Fitzroy 225 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
