The way life should be

The way life should be, is the first significant collaboration between artists Justy Phillips and Margaret Woodward. In its infancy, this is an ambitious, long term collaborative project, which comments on the realities and representations of contemporary Australian culture. This work explores the nature of travel, tourism, experience, truth, fiction and the depiction of Australian culture and society through collected tourist ephemera – using hundreds of vintage souvenir linen tea towels – collected from towns all over the country. These tea towels are being used to re-upholster everyday mid-century footstools. Little, domestic representations of place and a society in transition.

Justy Phillips

Justy Phillips is a visual artist, writer and adjunct lecturer at Charles Sturt University. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, and the London College of Printing, Phillips moved to Australia from England in 2003, to develop her practice through site-specific installation and text-based narrative works. Currently based in the NSW Riverina city of Wagga Wagga. Through her practice, Phillips considers the complex moral and ethical structures of society and the impact of such structures on everyday-life. Underpinning her practice is a strong belief in the potential of art to participate in and provide an understanding of contemporary social realities

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Dr. Margaret Woodward

Dr. Margaret Woodward is currently the Head of School of Communication and creative industries at Charles Sturt University. Woodward was awarded a PhD (Design) from Curtin University of Technology in 2009, investigating the field of interpretation design and the role of design in communicating and framing ideas about Australia’s natural and cultural heritage. Woodward ‘s current research interests focus on the role of creative industries in invigorating regional Australia. This ongoing academic research contributes to Woodward’s applied-practice working with cultural iconography and representations of contemporary Australian identity through textiles, upholstery and design.