Using objects found whilst walking, Lisa Tustian works with items of human detritus. Sometimes old, sometimes quite new and sometimes in the form of handwriting. She re-stages these found objects as artworks, either alone or  in combination with one another.

Most found object art focusses on the “object” side of the found object, but in contrast, central to her enquiry is its FOUND nature: the “found-ness”. Aiming to uncover ways in which this quality of “found-ness” might both be shown forth, she explores other factors that intersect and ally with found object art, such as chance, the precarious, the incongruous, playfulness, humour and its alter-ego, poignancy.

The kind of  found objects Tustian works with are, by definition, unique: they are non-art items that are happened upon whilst out in the world, rather than sought out or selected. They are singular, irreplaceable and both lost and found.

Due to these characteristics, they might offer a particular vehicle for meaning, potential narrative and perhaps also for empathy because of their link to another (unknown) human, an unwitting collaborator - the person who lost or discarded the material I use.

Tustian examines what part her authorial voice plays in the process of re-imagining these objects as artworks, using assemblage, audio and video pieces, printed and spoken word, and conceptual ideas and systems.

Lisa Tustian lives and works in Cardiff, Wales.  She is currently finishing her Master of Fine Art course at Cardiff School of Art and Design and hopes to embark on doctoral study next year.