A Celebration of Our Creative Talent

Alexander Knox announced as winner of the prestigious Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008

Victoria’s abundant artistic talent was celebrated today during a ceremony at Federation Square to announce the winners of the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008, the Professional Development and the VicUrban Awards.
Valued at more than $60,000, the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008 is one of the richest prizes of its kind in Australia and enhances Melbourne’s reputation and a creative capital.
The winner of the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008 is Alexander Knox for his work Maxims of behaviour 2008. Alexander’s work is located on the facade of the Royal Mail House on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets and operates winter nights until 2012 (see attached image).
Melbourne Prize Trust Executive Director, Simon Warrender, said “We have been delighted with the way the 2008 prize has been embraced by al finalists, who have presented an exceptional range of works and are evidence of the immense talent we have in Victoria”.
Mr Warrender said, “The Prize has grown throughout the past four years and would not have been possible without the generous support of all our partners and patrons and the dedication of the judges. This year’s finalists have been selected from a much larger list of entrants than when we launched in 2005.
The final 10 works, which include propositions and finished works, will be showcased free at a two-week public exhibition at Federation Square between 10 and 24 November 2008. The exhibition enables exposure for the finalists’ and showcases artistic excellence to the public, celebrating the creative vibrancy in our community in one of our most high-profile locations.
Each of the 10 finalists received a $2,000 artist fee, generously supported by Australian Art Resources and the Melbourne Prize Trust, to assist with costs associated with displaying their entered work at Federation Square.
The following awards were announced at BMW Edge today and will be published at www.melbourneprizetrust.org
Alexander Knox and his work, Maxims of Behaviour 2008, receives the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008: $60,000 cash, comprising $30,000 cash and $30,000 cash for an International Travel Grant, generously supported by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and the City of Melbourne respectively.
The work points to the future of urban sculpture and the transformational process in experiencing our urban environment.
Tom Nicholson for his work, Monument for the flooding of Royal Park 2008, receives the Professional Development Award: $9,000 cash, plus a three-month artist-in-residence at Sculpture & Spatial Practice, VCA Art, University of Melbourne, generously supported by the Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts, Fundere Fine Art Foundry and the Professional Development Award Trust.
Professor Andrea Hull AO, Director and Dean, Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts said, “the Professional Development Award not only provides financial reward but the opportunity for career development. We are delighted to provide the 3-month artist in residence.”
Louise Paramor for her work, Tritonic Jam Session 2008, receives the VicUrban Award: The VicUrban Award is an invitation to a selected finalist from the 2008 Melbourne Prize to participate in a research project with VicUrban, the Victorian Government’s sustainability agency.
VicUrban CEO Pru Sanderson said that the VicUrban Award would provide a rare opportunity for local artist Louise Paramor to experience the inner workings of the urban development process and to make a creative contribution to the look and feel of our urban environment.
"Part of creating liveable neighbourhoods is ensuring that the public realm is attractive, meaningful and memorable, and urban sculpture and public art have a huge role in that process.
"High quality urban design and public art are recognised as distinguishing features of VicUrban’s growth and redevelopment projects and VicUrban is recognised as an innovator and leader in these fields," Ms Sanderson said.
Visitors to the public exhibition at Federation Square may also cast their vote for the Civic Choice Award, valued at $3000, by completing the voting form in the free exhibition catalogue. The Civic Choice Award will to be announced on www.melbourneprizetrust.org on Thursday 27 November and is generously supported by J K Fasham Pty Ltd.
Over the past four years, entries for the annual Melbourne Prize have continually raised the bar of quality, creativity and artistic excellence and the cycle is set to continue with the Melbourne Prize for Literature in 2009 and Melbourne Prize for Music in 2010.
MPT media release