Small Object Spaces: Familiar
Metro Arts Window Gallery
97 Boundary St, West End QLD 4101
13 Nov - 20 Dec 2026
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COSTUME DESIGN EXHIBITION Familiar |
Cochrane’s new work Familiar continues her exploration of the symbiotic connection between human and animal. Drawn to what is strange and beautiful, she uses thread and fabric to mimic fur, feathers, flesh and antlers, creating richly textured surfaces that evoke a sense of mystery. These tactile elements blur the line between the earthly and the mystical, dissolving distinctions between human and animal, dream and waking, life and afterlife. Guided by the idea that animals can reflect hidden aspects of the self, the creatures in Selene’s body of work become literal vessels for the primal, instinctive, and hidden aspects of human nature, revealing both the creative and destructive forces that reside beneath the surface.
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Selene Mauri Cochrane |
Drawing from her background as a former Queensland Ballet costumier, Selene Mauri Cochrane creates intricate textile works that explore where beauty meets pain and the intersection between surface and depth. Her meticulously crafted pieces merge costume design with sculptural textiles to create immersive works that speak to personal transformation and inner truth. Through recurring esoteric symbols and fantastical elements, Cochrane invites viewers to contemplate their own hidden depths, whilest her precise attention to decorative detail serves as a counterpoint to darker, more contemplative themes.
Image credits
Birdgirl - Sagittarius Serpetarius (detail), 2024, Selene Mauri Cochrane. Various fabrics and threads, ceramic, wire, wading, handmade chain stitches metallic lace. 73 x 21 x 44 cm. Image courtesy of the artist.
Birdgirl - Pamthony (detail), 2026, Selene MauriCochrane. ceramic, various fabrics and threads, wire, wading, mica powder, timber and wool felt. Image courtesy of the artist.
Photo of Selene Mauri Cochrane in her studio, 2025. Image courtesy of the artist.

