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The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize is a national prize for sculptures of smaller dimensions and has attracted strong support from artists, collectors, benefactors, critics, and the local community. Attracting local, national and international entries, this year’s Prize received 614 entries of which 46 finalists were chosen.
The 2016 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize has been awarded to Sydney-based artist Todd Robinson. Robinson has been awarded the $15,000 acquisitive main prize for his work, Psychic Staircase, an eight-kilogram plywood staircase atop which sits an orange balloon that droops as the force of gravity appears to bear down on it. The work originates from an ongoing series of balloon inspired sculptures by Robinson that explore sculptural presence, materiality and conditions of audience reception.
Robinson says: “In conceiving this particular work I am interested in the physical sensation of vulnerability that one experiences through the feeling of vertigo, as well as the psychology surrounding particular architectural features such as stairs and landings. The work is cast directly from a latex balloon and finished with automotive lacquer. The balloon is balanced precariously on top of a model staircase. Notably the stairs are not realistically proportioned but rather distorted, with very narrow treads, emphasising the sense of isolation.”
The judging panel was comprised of cultural icon Wendy Whiteley OAM, CEO and Group Fairs Director of Art Fairs Australia Barry Keldoulis and Senior Curator at Macquarie University Art Gallery Rhonda Davis.
Commenting on the judging process and choice of winner, Wendy Whitley OAM said: “The judging process was good fun and we chose the winning work as a consensus. The marriage of hard and soft in Todd Robinson’s work creates a wonderful aesthetic that also contributes to the polished and professional look of the exhibition of finalist works as a whole.”
Barry Keldoulis commented: “From a large field full of potential, three judges with quite distinct perspectives whittled down to half dozen serious contenders, all with different attributes for a contemporary art prize; displaying interesting cross-cultural conversations, a certain push-pull of materiality, or perhaps a battle within form. With just a little argy-bargy, we have a list of winners and highly commended with which we are all happy.”
Commenting on the judging process, Rhonda Davis said: “The range of work was incredibly diverse and of a high caliber, making the judging process very difficult. The winning work by Todd Robinson stood out as it challenges our visual perceptions of spaces and the relationship of objects with people within spaces.”
Now in its 16th year, the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize totals $19,000 in prize money awarded to winning artists across six categories.
Special Commendation ($2,000 non-acquisitive award):
Saturn Eating A Man’s Leg by Stephen Bird
Yeldham Family Commendation ($1,000 non-acquisitive award):
Missing Corners 2015 edition of 3 + 2AP by Daniel Templeman
Highly Commended:
Untitled by Andrew Southall
Highly Commended:
Bared by Glenda Kent
Mayor’s Award ($1,000 non-acquisitive award):
Morph ◇ ⇨ ○ (Morph No. 6) by Tetsuro Yamasaki
Plinth Prize:
SOH – Black, Chromium Oxide Green, Ultramarine Blue & Pink by Yioryios
Viewers Choice:
To be announced at the conclusion of the 2016 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize exhibition of finalists.
Woollahra Council
Until 30 October, 2016
Sydney
