New Arrivals: A springboard into modern art
Louisa Dawson's winning sculpture New Arrivals. Photo: Alice King
The overall winner of the University of Western Sydney’s acquisitive Sculpture Award has been recognised for pushing the boundaries of conceptual, modern art.
Louisa Dawson’s winning entry, New Arrivals, is a 1 metre high diving board with a curved blue platform, weighted down by a stone boulder.
Like frozen liquid, the diving board is suspended in motion. To the viewer it is unclear whether the boulder has trapped the platform in its contorted position, or whether the artist has captured the very moment before the boulder is catapulted into the waiting pond.
UWS Curator, Monica McMahon, says it was this “dynamic tension” between the sculpture and the landscape, and the way that it engages with the viewer, which impressed the judges.
“This year we are very fortunate to have artist Jennifer Turpin and Michael Dagostino, Director of the Campbelltown Arts Centre, on board as the guest judges of the UWS Sculpture Award,” says Ms McMahon.
“Jennifer and Michael saw New Arrivals as a well-executed piece of conceptual, modern art. In particular, they were impressed by the way it worked with the landscape and created its own, unique visual language.”
Louisa Dawson is developing a reputation for creating “absurd and ironic sculptures” that incorporate evidence of change in urban environments. The forms of her sculptures tend to incorporate industrial and domestic objects such as suitcases, ladders and rubbish skips.
Louisa Dawson's 2008 entry, Water Sculpture. Photo: Sally Tsoutas
In 2008 she was a finalist in the biennial UWS Sculpture Awards for Water Sculpture – a twisting, tree-like conglomeration of garden hoses that raised the topical issue of water consumption.
Ms McMahon says the lakeside grounds of the UWS Campbelltown campus will be a suitable home for New Arrivals – an iconically Australian piece that reflects on migration, recreation and sport, as well as the relationship between natural and manufactured landscapes.
“The University is very fortunate to have secured this contemporary piece, by one of Australia’s emerging female artists,” says Ms McMahon.
“Louisa Dawson’s sculpture will make a fantastic, playful addition to the grounds of the Campbelltown campus, which is becoming a park land for engaging outdoor art.”
The winners of the 2012 UWS Sculpture Award were announced on Friday 4th May at a special Campbelltown campus ceremony, which featured an official opening of the outdoor exhibition by sculptor Ken Unsworth.
Ken Unsworth and UWS Vice Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid. Photo: Sally Tsoutas
Also announced as ‘Highly Commended’ prize winners on the day were Ingrid Morley’s Pocketfuls of gold... Bucketfuls of Sorrow and Greer Taylor’s Facet.
Members of the public are invited to visit the Exhibition, which will run until 3rd June 2012, and vote for the winner of the $5,000 Landcom People’s Choice Award.
WHAT: UWS Sculpture Exhibition
WHEN: 5 May-3 June 2012
WHERE: UWS Campbelltown campus, corner of Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown
More information: Read a bio of each artist and a description of their sculpture here.
The making of the UWS Sculpture Award: An interview with UWS Curator, Monica McMahon
Ends
7 May 2012
Photos: Sally Tsoutas and Alice King
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