Photography by Cliff Overton © all rights reserved.
Photography by Cliff Overton © all rights reserved.
The Museum was recently visited by artist, tinkerer, and ‘Steampunk’, Cliff Overton, who runs the ‘Antipodean Steampunk Adventures’ blog, and is currently exhibiting some of his works at the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford as part of their ‘Steampunk’ exhibition. This is part two of an interview with Cliff, part one can be found here.
Can you give us any hints about upcoming devices you are working on?
as to what I am working on – well, I am committed to a series of ‘specific devices’ now and I am up to number 4A. This one will be an ‘aural investigation’ device that may have a practical application once completed.
Device currently under construction.
So Cliff, we see you are exhibiting pieces in the ‘Steampunk’ exhibition at the Museum of the History of Science, in Oxford, what is the ‘Steampunk’ community like in Australia?
The steampunk community in Australia is very strong and growing. I know of groups In Brisbane, sydney and Meblourne who regularly meet for formal events (such as cruises on Sydney Harbour) or for informal events such as group visits to flea markets).
I am working with some other steampunk enthusiasts on an event in Melbourne in May called ‘steampump’ which brings invention, fashion, music, science and pugulism together for one evening!
Call me biased, but I think that Melbourne is the natural home of steampunk in Australia (won’t that comment start an debate) because of the very Victorian era feel that the city has with the old streets and buildings.
Apple’s newest gadget the ‘ipad’ was just announced, and will most likely neatly slot into a world that is filled with sleek, shiny, plastic gadgets and technology. In this day and age why do you think steampunk, and the scene that surrounds it, is growing in popularity?
the very fact that Apple have released yet another innocuous white plastic device is the very reason Steampunk will thrive. Now I need to go in to the lab and build the timber and brass ‘Wpad’!
Many thanks to Cliff Overton for this interview and the use of his images
