Ernie Malushnig

Born in Wellington, Ernie has always been inspired and challenged by sport and the outdoors. His forty year history of working with metal began assisting his father, an Austrian jeweler and watchmaker, in his workshop. He became intrigued by the scope of metalworking through classes at school and began the restoration of a Classic Car at the young age of 14. He went on to become a qualified fitter / welder.

To date Ernie has been an exhibitor at the Otago Museum, Cleveland Living Arts Centre, Sculptures in Central Otago (Olssen's Garden Vineyard), Gallery 33 (Wanaka) and Waiheke Island.

He has completed public and private commissions, both national and international, including Holding Time - a large scale stainless steel sundial commissioned by the Dunedin College of Education (2000) as well as the Sundial installed at the Outlet, Lake Wanaka.

To successfully merge form and function is the challenge for Ernie when creating his metal objects:

Cutting welding forging brazing folding rolling beating grinding and polishing…

' It is my aim to produce forms which are both functional and beautiful, and reflect a very high standard of craftsmanship. The forms evolve from observation of our natural environment and the elements that shape it. They are quiet, tactile expressions of mass and the effect of light playing on its surface'