The creative arts student’s thesis is delves into “materiality”, collection and conversion of rubbish and incorporates a hands-on approach, which in turn makes great art.

The eccentric artist’s new exhibition, “I Am A 3D Printer”, opens this week at the Wollongong Art Gallery and uses re-purposed plastics to create what look like hand painted ceramics from an ancient Asian dynasty.

Goffman knows she paints well, but admits that comes from time studying at the National Art School in Sydney and more than 20 years experience.

“Practice makes perfect, Michelangelo wasn’t born drawing like that, you know. Long years of long work, every stroke counts,” she said.

Goffman says it’s “not her job” to preach about the damage plastics and other packaging cause on the environment, but admits her art does involve that subtle component.

“I’m simply reflecting the time that we live in and this era of consumerism,” she said.

Ceramics was often traditionally referred to as “plastic art”, according to Goffman, who thinks it’s a fun play on how time has changed the meaning of the definition.

In this exhibition she has created more than 70 pieces to emulate works donated to Wollongong Art Gallery’s collection by William S Tatlow and Gora Singh Mann.

“Goffman reconfigures and juxtaposes traditional Chinese and Japanese decorative design and aesthetics against contemporary forms to reflect the dynamic intersection of two areas of the Gallery’s permanent collections - contemporary art and Asian ceramics,” reads the description set by the gallery.

“By focusing on trash as artefact and trash as treasure, this exhibition suggests that we re-evaluate the commodity and draw attention to an alternative consumerism which values the packaging as much as what it used to contain.”

The exhibition officially opens Friday March 10 at 6:30pm. It runs at Wollongong Art Gallery until June 18.

Goffman will present a free artist talk about her works and the effects of “globesity” on the world on May 3, 11am.

www.wollongongartgallery.com.au