Are
you going to miss the big fried egg on Tamarama beach,
the mosaic-covered combi at McKenzies and the gossipy
old paling fence in Mark’s Park?
If
you don't make it to the Bondi coastline soon, you’re
in danger of Sculptures by the Sea withdrawal. Some symptoms
may include stroking rocks and murmuring about the play
of shadow and light on a lifeguard’s Speedos.
Sculptor
Vaclav Fiala won’t be worrying about Speedos back
in his native Czech Republic, but he will be enjoying
the afterglow of his $30,000 Lexus Prize for Sculpture.
Fiala took away the top prize for the second year running,
this time for his elegant, hard wood creation chapel.
Inspired by the Australian bush, chapel won praise
for its clean lines and structural integrity.
“There’s
no doubt that it’s one of my favourite pieces in
the show”, said exhibition Director David Handley.
“I love the simplicity and the majesty of it. I
like to think of it as a chapel for one.” David
added that the decision to honour Fiala twice in a row
was “controversial” for an organization that
like to share the money round.
Including
Fiala, 12 artists scooped up a total of $115,000 in prizes
and grants in this year’s exhibition. That’s
a huge increase on the $15,000 prize money the event attracted
when it opened as a one day festival nine years ago. Since
its inception Sculptures by the Sea has grown into the
largest, free to the public, outdoor exhibition of contemporary
sculpture in Australia.
This
year, over 100 sculptors from around the world staged
their work along the breathtaking, twisty Bondi to Tamarama
coastline. More than 400,000 visitors oohed, aahed and
scratched their sunburnt scalps at exhibits that ranged
from the classic to the quirky to the avante garde.
From
Jane Becker’s surreal and sublime piece my queer
house (winner of the Art Gallery of NSW Prize) to
Sasha Reid’s “noble and absurd” I, walrus,
this year’s collection was thought-provoking, fun
and innovative.
Sculptures
is an iconic event that brings together a walrus, an oversized
recliner and a giant wave in a way that Sea World can
only dream of. Check it out now!
AWARD
WINNERS
Award
Awarded to
Lexus Prize for Sculpture - Vaclav
Fiala, Czech Republic
Sydney Water Environmental Sculpture Prize - Tommy
Pershall, USA
Kodak Sculpture Prize - Denise Hume,
NSW
SMH Represented Sculptor Award - Jim Croke,NSW
Icebergs Signature Prize - Jacqueline Campbell,
NSW
Art Gallery of NSW Prize - Jane Becker,
NSW
Australian Unrepresented Sculptor Award 2005 -
Mandy Francis, NSW
The Damon Courtenay Memorial Young Sculptor’s
Prize - Jason Waterhouse, VIC
The AGNSW Society Taskforce Site Specific Award
- Sandra Pitkin, NSW
The Director’s Prize – Bondi 2005
- Jarrod Taylor, NSW
The Allens Arthur Robinson People’s Choice
Prize
Votes collected throughout the exhibition. Awarded at
the People’s choice prize presentation on 20/11.
The Kid’s Choice Award
Votes collected throughout the exhibition. Awarded at
the People’s choice prize presentation on 20/11.
