Engaging designers and makers from South Australia, HARD explored the rituals of sneaking out after dark to scour the streets for hard, hard rubbish. The unspoken acceptance of these movements reflects the correlation between the queer upbringing in Australia and the search to find ones place in the system, often in communities that aren’t yet “there” in acceptance or understanding. A similar (however tongue-in-cheek) notion is employed when searching for hard rubbish, the accepted thriftiness of utilising what’s around you in the re-purposing of hard rubbish; the pride that comes with boasting to house guests that an item was completely free.

HARD asked exhibitors to utilise their surroundings by integrating found materials into a new work representative of their current practice. From all corners of the South Australian design community, HARD presented new work by sculptors, musicians, ceramic and glass artists, interior and furniture designers who represent the breadth of creativity and community that is so special to the state.