Installed in the Understory Garden Gallery, Casting with Nature – Hollow Jarrah is a sculptural work by Paul Fontanini, standing approximately two metres tall and constructed from cast recycled aluminium, Jarrah, and wrought iron. The work was created by pouring molten aluminium into the hollow centre of a rotted Jarrah log. Large cracks were filled and the ends partially capped before casting, allowing the aluminium to flow through and capture the internal textures of the decayed timber. Any remaining timber was then carefully removed, leaving a detailed aluminium casting of the log’s interior. The process is both destructive and preservative – the original mould is destroyed by flame, while its form and textures are permanently preserved in metal. Through this method, Fontanini highlights the often-overlooked beauty found in natural decay. The sculpture invites viewers to reconsider deterioration not as loss, but as transformation, revealing complexity, resilience, and quiet elegance within processes of change. Sustainability is central to the work. The aluminium was sourced from recycled materials including horseshoes, roof racks, pistons, manifolds, and other car parts, while the wrought iron rings encircling the Jarrah base were forged from vintage horse cart tyres. The sculpture was created using a forge and furnace built by the artist himself in his hometown of Manjimup, further grounding the work in regional practice, reuse, and craftsmanship.
Born in Manjimup and now based in the South West of Western Australia, Paul Fontanini is a sculptor and artist blacksmith working across a wide range of materials and techniques. After studying Art and Design at Bunbury TAFE and completing a Diploma of Fine Art at the Western Australian School of Art and Design, Fontanini developed a practice combining forged and fabricated metal with materials including wood, cast aluminium, resin and recycled plastics.
Inspired by nature and organic forms, his work often explores the contrast between raw natural textures and smooth machined or polished surfaces. His recent series, Casting with Nature, experiments with using elements of the natural environment itself as moulds for molten metal, creating works that blur the boundaries between industrial process and organic form.
More about Paul’s work: https://paulfontanini.com.au/
Follow Paul on social media: @paul.fontanini.artist
