The 2013 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize – Australia’s pre‐eminent national award for small sculpture – has been awarded to Melbourne‐based artist Julia DeVille for her work ‘Sorrow’, featuring a ruby‐encrusted taxidermy stillborn fawn laid out on a silver platter.
DeVille was awarded the $10,000 prize at an opening event on last Friday at the Woollahra Council. Her work will be acquired into the Woollahra Council collection.
DeVille’s winning sculpture was chosen from 43 finalist works included in the 13th annual Prize by guest judges Nick Mitzevich, Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia and Professor Ian Howard from the University of New South Wales College of Fine Arts.
Commenting on their choice of winner, Nick Mitzevich said: “Julia DeVille challenges our notion of what a sculpture is in the 21st century. In her own unique manner she combines two disparate disciplines of taxidermy and jewellery, exploring our understanding of what a found object is in order to create a very moving and emotional work. There is a great sense of emotion in the way DeVille has orchestrated ‘Sorrow’ – when you look at this sculpture you feel instantly connected to it.”
2013 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize
Woollahra Council Chambers
Until 10 November, 2013
Sydney
Image: Julia deVille, Sorrow, 2012, stillborn deer, glass, antique platter, rubies 0.35ct, enamel paint, 56 x 35 x15cm
