Chris Byrne and Chi Phan. Photo: Ann Niddrie.
Blue Mountains design duo Chopstick and Kilt are on a roll.
Following on from a very successful exhibition in Melbourne, the pair have been shortlisted for a large scale public art installation in Bondi.
Working with the metaphor of a fluid community, Chopstick and Kilt have created a concept using light and copper for the large scale residential and commercial development.
Comprised of sculptor Chi Phan and furniture maker Chris Byrne, the designers and makers are producing signature lighting and furniture pieces for commercial and residential spaces from their Katoomba studio.
Recent projects include Brisbane restaurant Popolo where the duo created pieces for the popular inner city venue.
“We are very excited about being shortlisted for the Boheme Bondi development — it was a tough field of over 30 proposals from around the country. We’re down to the last five and really looking forward to presenting this month,” said Mr Byrne.
Byrne and Phan began sharing a studio in late 2009 and it quickly became apparent they also shared the common outlook of wanting to create large scale pieces for public spaces.
“Chris was banging on about the psychology of public spaces and I was keen on interactive public art — it seemed like a good opportunity to do something together,” said Mr Phan.
Finding a common interest was easy — a suitable name was not.
“Eventually we went with the name that we jokingly called ourselves before we even thought of working together: Chopstick and Kilt. I’m Vietnamese and Chris is Scottish — we wanted to embrace that in a humorous way,” said Mr Phan.
“Working in the Mountains is great for us,” said Mr Bryne.
“We have a terrific community of artistic, capable friends and people are very generous with their time. Our friend Ann Niddrie has been documenting our work through her wonderful photography and the Carrington Hotel let us shoot in the old staff quarters.
“It really feels there is space to create up here.”