More than just a stylish kitchen utensil, Koi Knives range of artisan Japanese Knives is now featuring in a McLaren Vale art gallery.
It’s been a busy week for the Koi Knives boys as they prepared their collection for display in the Fleurieu Arthouse.
Fleurieu Arthouse is an eclectic art gallery in the centre of McLaren Vale, exhibiting a variety of local products and works such as paintings, glassware, ceramics, jewellery, prints, sculptures, and now Adelaide based knives. Products are available for purchase from the Fleurieu Arthouse shop, including the range of Koi Knives displayed.
Located on the grounds of Hardys Tintara winery, visitors to the gallery can enjoy the region’s world renown wines, art and coffee in the one stop.
Koi Knives founders Shannon and Ramon said the Fleurieu Arthouse felt like the perfect place to share their knives which they have often referred to as jewellery and art for the kitchen.
“Many of our handles have been sourced from the McLaren Vale region with woods including shiraz vine, banksia pod, poplar burl, olive tree root, peppercorn, mallee root and Platypus gum,” said Shannon.
“Once cast in colourful resins and matched with Japanese steel, these knives really are showcasing the natural beauty of the Fleurieu region.
“While we seek to create superior quality Japanese style kitchen knives, we also want to provide an aesthetically pleasing product. The handles have been individually hand crafted from South Australian woods and are essentially a work of art, so to have our knives displayed in the Fleurieu Arthouse really is a fitting tribute to the craftwork and the region."
The Koi Knives display includes the Gyuto, Bunka, Deba, Nakiri, Sujihiki, Kiritsuke, Petty and Paring knives.
The Fleurieu Arthouse also includes studio spaces where artists can be seen at work, as well as coffee and refreshments to enjoy while perusing the variety of works.
While Shannon and Ramon were busy drilling and installing their knife display on the wall, some of their younger family members also enjoyed visiting the gallery as they were kept occupied in the children’s play area.
Fleurieu Arthouse is open 7 days from 11am to 4pm. For more information visit www.fleurieuarthouse.com.au
