43 finalists have been named for this year’s Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, selected by guest judges Nick Mitzevich, Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia and Professor Ian Howard from the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales. Among those named are such well-known figures as Stephen Bird, Dani Marti, Joan Ross, Tim Silver and David Jensz; former Prize winner Louis Pratt; respected Indigenous artist Margaret Poulson, and emerging artists such as Troy Emery, Julia deVille and Kirsteen Pieterse.
The Prize requires artists to present an original, freestanding sculpture up to 80 centimetres in any dimension. Finalist works will be presented in a free exhibition at the Woollahra Council Chambers, with the Prize to be announced on 26 October. Finalist works range from the exquisitely crafted to the chunky and abject, with evocative and arresting imagery and themes. Professor Howard commented on the innovative use of materials used by this year’s finalists, ranging from more traditional sculptor materials such as ceramic, glass and bronze through to the more unusual taxidermy (Julia deVille), woven USA and Chinese paper currency (Abdullah Syed), metallic material and pink shag-pile rug (Troy Emery).
“We are seeing innovation amongst this year’s finalists in the way the figure is being represented and a move towards more figurative rather than abstract sculptures compared with previous years,” noted Professor Howard.
“The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize has attracted not only a great quantity of works with nearly 500 entries this year, but also an impressive quality of art works submitted.The Prize is also encouraging senior artists, usually known for their large-scale public art works, to explore growth their practices by creating smaller sculptures for the first time.”
The Prize is Australia’s pre-eminent national award for small sculpture and attracts a diverse range of professional and emerging sculptors from around the world. A total prize of $13,000 is awarded to winning artists in the categories of: The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize ($10,000, an acquisitive award); The Special Commendation ($2,000, non acquisitive); and The Viewers’ Choice ($1,000, non-acquisitive).
For a full list of finalists, see the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize website. The winner of the 2013 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize will be announced on 26 October 2013 at the Woollahra Council Chambers
Finalists’ Exhibition
Woollahra Council Chambers
26 October to 10 November, 2013
1) Troy Emery, Wooly Woofter, 2013, polyurethane, acrylic yarn, glue, pins
2) Julia deVille, Sorrow, 2012, stillborn deer, glass, antique platter, rubies 0.35ct, enamel paint, 56 x 35 x15cm
