Landfall winners announced

WINNERS of this year’s Lorne Sculpture Biennale (LSB) Non-Acquisitive and Emerging Artist Award were announced Saturday after the festival’s official opening.

The free festival running March 17 until April 2, celebrates the best of contemporary Australian and international sculpture and was opened by the Federal Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield.

The 2018 curatorial theme “Landfall” presents major works and new commissions from 43 artists devoted to pressing global issues of nature with the Non-Acquisitive Award valued at $20,000 awarded to Margaret Worth for her work Vajrasana meditation.

Award judge Max Delany, the Director of Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACAA), said on behalf of his fellow judges (Charlotte Day, Director of Monash Gallery, and Jason Smith, Director of Geelong Gallery) that Ms Worth’s piece was outstanding.

“Margaret Worth’s work is an outstanding, complex, resonant work which is formally compelling and rich with association,” Mr Delany said.

“Her simple, sculptural form demonstrates an extraordinary range and breadth, from her deep involvement and knowledge of 20th century modernist sculpture, coupled with the experience and surprising complexity of 21st century contemporary forms and ideas.”

Mr Delany said the Emerging Artist Award valued at $10,000 was awarded to Georgina Humphries for her work Tents.to.sea.

“We are pleased to award Georgina Humphries the Emerging Artist Award for her work Tents.to.sea, made from reclaimed tents and rope, constructed on the swing bridge, which delivers a kaleidoscopic beacon in the shape of a triangular tent or sail form.

“Tents.to.sea functions as a beacon, weather vane and community gathering space in a site which engages the long view from the road, the architecture of the bridge, and the neighbourhood of community camping and collective activity.”

Under the creative direction of curator Lara Nicholls in her incoming biennale, astonishing sculptures and installations are situated across the dramatic sweep of Lorne’s world-famous foreshore.

The judges made two honorary and special mentions to Ritchie Ares Dona for his work High density polyethylene cocoon, and to the recently deceased Matthew Harding for his elegant work Landbridge.

The remaining award categories, Sculpturescape Land Art Award valued at $10,000, the People’s Choice Award ($3,000), Small Sculpture Award ($3,000) and The Ken Scarlett Award ($3,000) for writers, will all be announced at the closing event on April 2.