‘Perfect Imperfect’ was an exhibition of perfectly imperfect objects collected from around the world, curated by Karen McCartney, Sharyn Cairns and Glen Proebstel in collaboration with Hotel Hotel.

The exhibition, installed at the Nishi Gallery, sprung from the pages, and launched, a new book by the same name by Karen McCartney with photography by Sharyn Cairns and styling by Glen Proebstel, published by Murdoch Books.

‘Perfect Imperfect’ brought together contemporary design with well-worn objects to explore the established aesthetic of wabi-sabi from a new standpoint where craftspeople, designers and artists are combining handmade processes with new technologies for making. It explored concepts of mutability, ugliness, the unfinished and incomplete, irregularity, serendipity, weathering and decay, tranquility, modesty and contrast. It celebrated objects imbued with these values – their humanity, their poetry, their honesty.

‘Perfect Imperfect’ included more than 30 ceramics, art and sculptural pieces, textiles, photography and found objects to form one cohesive study of imperfection, highlighting the beauty of accident, age and patina.