Sculpere Newsletter: Tesselaar Sculpture Prize 2011

‘Untitled #1’ by Luke Rogers (mild steel
and found objects) 70 x 50 x 20cm

Each year the Tesselaar Gardens are decorated with sculptures from our Association amongst the colourful beds of tulips. This year the $10,000 prize was awarded to Luke Rogers’ piece ‘Untitled #1’ This work can be seen at the Gardens as the prize each year becomes part of the permanent collection.

In its fourth year, Mark Cowie has been curating this exhibition since its inception and said that the Tesselaar Sculpture Prize has attracted sculptors of the calibre of Dean Bowen, John Wooller, Geoffrey Ricardo, Rudi Jass, Don Barrett, Luke Rogers, Liz Walker, Michael Meszaros and Peter Schipperheyn. This year, the judge was the renowned Australian sculptor, Jock Clutterbuck.

‘After the Rain’ by Rudi Jass
(Stainless steel, corten steel and brass)
200 x 120 x 70 cm

The Judges comments:
“.... there are many works in the show which are fine outdoor sculptures. In particular, (member) Damian Vick’s ‘Luna 3’, Anton Hasell’s ‘Dark Cloud of the Heart’, Ben Fasham’s ‘Embrace’ and Frank McFarlane’s ‘In Search of Kindred Spirits’ have produced very competent, articulate works. Seven finalists emerged as works with a greater sense of élan and ambition. Moz Moresi’s ‘Dragonfly – King of the Wetlands’ is a very capable piece of fabricated invention, as are ‘After the Rain’ by (member) Rudi Jass and ‘Scrupulous’ by (member) Lindsay Butcher.

‘Luna 3’ by Damian Vick (Corten steel
and mild steel) 160 x 80 x 80 cm.
Photography by John Bishop

‘Look Both Ways - Mother and Child’ by
Maria Coyle (Mount Gambier limestone
and slate 170 x 65 x 25 cm)
Photography by John Bishop

(Member) Neil Tait’s ‘Eternity’ and Don Barrett’s ‘Boomerang Thrower’ are large scale ambitious works, which hold together very well. The energy, tensions and relationships within these five works, and the two prize-winning pieces, are well managed.

‘Unfurling of Spring’ by John Bishop
(Mount Gambier limestone 155 x 75 x
75cm) Photography by John Bishop

The issue, however, in this award is enduring quality; a work that will still look good in ten, 20 or more years. Although they are not outstandingly ambitious there are two works of such quality.

I have awarded Second Prize to Noel Muscat’s ‘Parched Vessel’, where the density of surface and gesture in the piece marks it out as a work of singular quality. And the work I have selected for the Tesselaar Sculpture Prize 2011 is ‘Untitled #1’ by Luke Rogers. This piece has a very fine sense of resolution, eloquence and presence. My selection is in response to the very powerful sense of rightness, poise and balance in the construction of the work. It is not large, yet it is a gem of a sculpture with a powerful enduring presence. Finally, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all the participating sculptors.