CorCo Chanel 2.21 – Champagne and Pearls
Dimensions:
Medium:
Cork
Artist:
De Lamby Wulff
Artist Statement:
Dr Sarah Barlow was an accomplished Paediatric Specialist, author, researcher, lecturer and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians. Sarah lost her epic battle with bowel cancer at the age of 37.
Sarah carried herself with grace and style throughout life, until the very end. Fond of fashion and labels, champagne and pearls, 5-inch heels and beehive hairstyles, none of these were ever reserved for special occasions.
Sarah fought cancer on her own terms and in style, attending her medical appointments with an air of sophistication, clutching her classic Coco Chanel bag. For 2 years, unknown to the outside world, the luxury Chanel bag held Sarah’s’ chemo pump.
Dr Sarah Barlow
12 months into treatment
Coco Chanel 2.55 bag & Fighting Cancer
In life, Sarah loved a good party and champagne flowed, every bottle a celebration of life. Champagne and pearls featured at every event.
Construction
Almost 2000 repurposed and donated champagne corks. Cleaned and boiled to restore the original shape, sorted, cut, drilled and laced together. The process was all consuming with the sculpture completed in 2022.
The subtle contrast in texture from the curved top of each cork, to the hand sliced bottom, were carefully placed to achieve the traditional quilted finish synonymous with this Chanel 2.55 classic.
The corks from Sarah’s wake feature in the interlocking C’s of the clasp.
Following Sarah’s passing and Covid lockdown, when the sculpture had grown larger than anyone would have ever imagined, I gingerly approached Sarah’s mother Gita to seek progress approval. What if the corks intrusted to me were intended for a small memorial piece?
When Gita suggested the model reclining in the cork bag should wear pearls made of giant white ping pong balls, I knew I had her blessing.
CorCo 2.21 Model Jessica Lewis
Medical Graduate 2011
– Rest in Peace Beautiful Girl –
