The making of the UWS Sculpture Award - Interview with UWS Curator, Monica McMahon

Q: How many entries did you receive for the 2012 UWS Sculpture Award?

A: We would normally receive around 50-70 entries, but this year it jumped to 82. Interestingly, 80% of this year’s entries were from new people, who had never entered before. This shows that the word is getting around, and Australian artists are really starting to get behind this exhibition. From these 82 entries, 27 finalists will be on display at the Exhibition – seven more than we would usually have.

Q: How are the finalists for the Exhibition selected?

A: The selection panel changes every exhibition and they comprise of a well known practicing sculptor, a director of an art gallery and myself, the UWS Art Curator. Most of the time, the selection panel works from the artists’ conceptual drawings. The selection process involves a lot of consultation, we speak to the artists for clarification on their drawings, and how their sculptures will work within the landscape. We are fortunate to have attracted the attention of some very well-known, reputable artists, so we become very confident that they will deliver.

Q: How do you go about plotting out the exhibition space, and making the decisions about where each sculpture will be physically located?

A: In their submissions, a lot of the artists have taken into consideration the site itself. They have an area of the campus in mind already – whether it is a space beside the lake, or an area between particular trees – so I try to take that into consideration.
Then I do a risk assessment of each site, and consider whether the ground in that area could support that particular sculpture and what types of foundations are needed. Another key consideration is the weather; if it rains and the ground becomes damp, and the water levels of the lake rise, will the site still be appropriate?
There is so much to consider, and at the same time I’m trying to think about how each sculpture will work within the space, how they will complement each other as well as the landscape.

Q: How do you take the landscape into account during the planning process?

A: The landscape is so incredibly important to the viewer’s experience of an outdoor sculpture exhibition. When deciding where each piece will be positioned, I think about how each sculpture will look alongside each other, and the ways that the viewer’s eyes will pass through each piece. I also think about how each sculpture will interact with its environment – how they will make reflections upon the surfaces of the lakes, and the impact of the orientations of the sun and shadow patterns. Depending on the time of the day, the impact will be different.

Q: How does the installation process work?

A: We are fortunate to have the support of some local crane drivers and excavator operators that know the site, and they are incredibly generous with their time. Some of the sculptures are seriously big, and need substantial foundations. For the artists that do not need the heavy machinery, they will come on campus to install their own sculptures.

Q: The scale of the Exhibition seems to have grown this year...

A: Yes, but it didn’t begin that way. Some of the sculptures didn’t start off so large, but the artists rang to let me know that their works were evolving. Some had doubled in size. It will certainly be a sight to see.

Q: It sounds as though, for the artists as well as for you, the Exhibition is a huge undertaking.

A: Yes, definitely the sculpture prize involves an 18 month planning process for each exhibition, this being the fifth one we have hosted. We are very thankful for our artists, who have shown such commitment and dedication this year. They are so deeply involved in the process, of assessing our site and how their art will work within it. They come out quite a few times to visit before the Exhibition, and are very considered in their approach. We have eight interstate artists that will be flying in, or driving across the country, to install their exhibitions. We offer these artists accommodation to make the process easier.

Q: Are there any dominate themes from the sculptures that are coming through this year?

A: As in past years, the Awards have had very definite influences, such as environmentalism and the relationship between human beings and our natural world. There are fewer figurative works this year and many artists have used recycled materials or found objects. The artists have really considered the sculptural form of their pieces within this landscape and the effect of light, shadow and texture, echoing these features found within the site itself.

Q: What can visitors expect for the look and feel of this year’s Exhibition?

A: Every year we try to rethink the space and how we can best utilise it. This year, it will be very playful – particularly the area around the small lake, near the School of Medicine Building, where many of the smaller-scale sculptures will be situated. It will really be a place where children are encouraged to touch and play. I think people will be surprised at how beautiful and welcoming the environment will be. During the Sculpture Awards, the Campbelltown campus really becomes a place for families to gather for picnics, and for students to relax between lessons.

Q: So the art really draws people out of the buildings and into the landscape?

A: Yes, and it is amazing how much the community really gets behind the Exhibition. As soon as the sculptures are in place, the most amazing things begin to happen. People travel from far and wide; hundreds of people arrive for their Mother’s Day picnics; staff come out of their offices; students in residence invite their parents; and yoga groups start to gather on the lawns. The art creates a real sense of community.

More information: Read a bio of each artist and a description of their sculpture here.