Lachlan Fuller

It’s incredibly difficult pigeonholing Lachlan Fuller. A graduate of music at The University of Adelaide, he excels at everything he lays his hands on. This is obvious when viewing his excellent craftmanship, whether they be designing and making rings and necklaces, guitars and longboards, or costumes and props for cosplay. Here is COLLAGE’S interview with him!

Q: Hello Lachlan! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

A: I’m a 21 year old who has just completed a bachelor in music. Now that I have finished my degree, I’m perusing my burning desire to build things. I’ve always had a fascination with beautifully crafted items, whether it is a handmade guitar, or a replica prop from a movie. Ever since I first put a chisel to wood in my early teens, I knew I would be addicted to creating things with my hands. Since then, I’ve made guitars, guitar picks, sand sculptures, skateboards, baseball bats, necklaces, tunnels/stretchers and heaps of replicas of items from movies/anime/video games.

Lachlan’s rings made from mahogany, seashells, and mother of pearls

Q: Who inspires you? What inspires your art?

A: I can’t really say that it comes from one place. If I’m watching a movie or playing a game and I see something that looks cool, I always think, “wouldn’t it be cool to have that in real life?”. The only other thing that really inspires me to make something is when I see someone else try and make something and feel that I could do it better (it sounds bad, I know). It also works the other way in that if I want to make something that there’s already plenty of, I’m unlikely to make it.

       

Some of Lachlan’s finely crafted instruments

Q: Do you have a preferred medium?

A: Most things I make are from wood. It’s a fantastic material that can come in a huge range of colours, sizes and thickness. The other great thing about wood is that I tend to have a lot of access to it. One of my main focuses now is to branch out and learn as many methods and materials to use for fabricating as I can. I’ve experimented with epoxy resin, plastics, seashells (paua, mother of pearl), metal and 3D printing. I’m hoping to get more experience in resin/metal/wax casting, 3D printing, blacksmithing, CNC machining, laser cutting and mould making. I want to do it all.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I’m not sure that I have a style. Maybe I do but just can’t see it. I like to think that I create things in a huge variety. I certainly have a tendency to make things look old and rustic but that is only partially out of stylistic decision-making and usually because it’s easier to make mistakes look like they were made on purpose. That would probably be my ‘style’ if anything. I tend to follow whatever the material seems to want to do. In a strange way, some things have a habit of making themselves.

Lachlan’s Ocarina of Time Boss Key

Q: Can you please describe your artistic and creative process i.e.: from lingering idea to putting it into practice?

A: It always depends on what I’m making. If I’m working on a large or detailed piece I’ll most certainly draw up a plan and stare at reference images for ages to get the idea of the piece three dimensionally in my head. Other times, if I’m just experimenting with something new then I’ll jumps straight into it and see where I end up. With items such as guitars, skateboards and pieces that have either a function or an aspect that needs to be precise then there are many stages of preparation. Measure three times, cut once.

Lachlan’s custom made longboard

Q: Where do you see your art practice taking you in the next five years?

A: I plan on doing a unit in at the University of Tasmania for a few months in the middle of this year in 3D Digital Fabrication and Rapid Prototyping. I may end up doing a diploma over there but I’m not too sure at this stage. The main thing which has been plaguing me is that I have no idea what job facilitates these skills/experience/interests. But at least now I’ve managed to narrow down from digital design and music. I’ll keep them in the ‘hobby’ pile.

As for the 3-4 years after that I have no idea. One thing is for sure though; I will have made heaps of cool shit.

Q: If you could recommend one artist, who would it be, and why?

A: Aaaah, why one? There are so many good ones like Jensen Knives, Volpin Props, Ormsby Guitars, Joshua Murray Silver Jewellery, Shawn Coss.

If I had to recommend one it would have to be Perry Ormsby from Ormsby guitars. Ormsby is a self made, Australian luthier who produces some of the most beautiful instruments in the world. I strongly recommend anyone and everyone to check him out.

Lachlan created these necklaces using Paua, abolone and mother of pearls

Q: What is your favourite gallery and why?

A: I’d have to say the WETA Workshop in New Zealand. The quality and craftsmanship of the people who work there seems second to none. Surely nothing could be better than having the best of the best come together to create incredible work. I can tell WETA is my favourite because it is the one I am most jealous of.

Q: Where can we find more of your work?

A: I’m on Instagram and that’s about it. Unless you want to hear what a bachelor of music might sound like I’m also on SoundCloud.

Last year I had an artists table at Adelaide’s Anime and Videogames Convention,but I probably won’t be doing that again until next year, especially since last year was 5 years in-the-making.

Lachlan’s Instagram account

Q: What song would you want to play at your funeral and why?

A: What a lovely, morbid final question. Hopefully I won’t need to decide for a very long time. To me, funerals are more about the living than the dead. My funeral should be whatever it needs to be for those in mourning. So any song chosen for my funeral should be selected by those closest to me.

But the after-party will definitely feature a lot of Alesana, A Skylit Drive and Northlane.

-Masya Zabidi