ANNOUNCEMENT: WINNER OF THE 2022 MONTALTO SCULPTURE PRIZE
ANNOUNCEMENT: WINNER OF THE 2022 MONTALTO SCULPTURE PRIZE
We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2022 Montalto Sculpture Prize ($50,000) is…
'Terestri Anenemi' by Marcus Tatton
'Terestri Anenemi' considers the encroachment of inert substances into our physiology. Once totally organic in nature, our human frames now mingle amongst and host multiple forces and forms of less digestable content… These days we are (at least) becoming aware of the lodging of inert microplastics in our world.
'Terestri Anenemi’ becomes part of the stunning Sculpture Trail at Montalto in Red Hill, on the Mornington Peninsula.
“It is fantastic support and recognition for the creative spirit, that Montalto have developed this Sculpture Award over the last 20 years. Without such cultural forums as the Montalto Sculpture Award, many of we sculptors would not have our audience, our contemporary relevance, or even, our voice. As recipient of the 2022 Montalto Sculpture Award, with a sculpture addressing the unseen usurpation of microplastics over the Earth’s surface, I am grateful for the many layers of meaningful connection that can and might unfold ongoing at Montalto… This gratitude includes a deep respect for the 500+ artists who have exhibited at Montalto and who in this exhibition, continue to challenge and delight our senses in such layered and meaningful ways. Many thanks to Wendy, John , Heidi and Neil for their love of art and of the creative spirit in each of us." ~ Marcus Tatton
The winner of the 2022 Family Choice non-acquisitive award ($5,000) is…
’Tawny Frogmouth’ by Renate Crow
Cheeky, playful and utterly captivating, Tawny frogmouths appear fearless, engaging in a spontaneous staring competition, or hiding in plain sight, mimicking a branch.
They are at home in rural and urban areas.
A success story, they’ve managed to adapt to their changing environment, while so many other native creatures struggle for survival.
Visitors can carefully sit inside the tawny frogmouth, a tiny sanctuary to take a moment to be still, cocooned in the belly.
'Tawny Frogmouth' was built in 2022 for a site in the storm ravaged Dandenong Ranges. Sat upon a storm felled tree at the forest edge, it was one of the first temporary artworks along Ngurrak Barring (RidgeWalk - 40km walk project in the Yarra Ranges.)
Renate has a socially engaged visual-sculptural arts practice, based in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.
The 2022 Montalto Sculpture Prize Exhibition will run from 19th November 2022 through until 30th April 2023.
“Each year sculptures arrive for our exhibition in all shapes and sizes, and to be safe in the public landscape thought is required with how it will be installed. I have lost count of how many deep holes we have dug around the property over the last 20 years, but in nearly all instances the artist comes prepared for some manual labour, sometimes barely scratching the surface and pinning a piece securely down, other times a five hour dig through solid clay to provide a suitable anchor. Marcus Tatton is one such artist who will not shy from spending hours on a site preparation. Marcus has been known to camp onsite for days on end to complete a work.
Living in Tasmania with his young family, Marcus began collecting wood for his wood stove to keep the family warm and fed. He also built hollow huts from stacked wood for his children to play in, and these creations developed into whole architectural forms reinforced for safety and for public display. Marcus began showing these wood stacks publicly as a way to revalue the material and to continue a conversation about renewable resources. Each piece of wood is to be treated with respect and to be used wisely, either for cooking, for warmth, or in creating these beautiful art forms.
Tatton's work ‘Terestri Anenemi’ is a playful group of forms that highlight a need for awareness of inert micro plastics in the world. These spherical forms sit (or almost float) so elegantly in the landscape, thanks to Marcus’s considered installation. We are proud to have his engaging work join our permanent collection at Montalto.” ~ Neil Williams, Creative Director, Montalto Sculpture Trail.
"A beautiful sculptural form carrying an important message. Built with the artists hands, passion and respect for natures landscape. A fitting 20 year outcome and addition to the Montalto collection.” ~ John Mitchell, Montalto.
A word from our judges Peter Williams, Philip Doggett-Williams and Kelly Gellatly…
"We have all been involved as judges of the Montalto Sculpture Prize for many years - Peter and Phil have been there from the start, and Kelly Gellatly arrived more recently. It has been a privilege to be involved, and to see the Prize’s growth and evolution during that time, along with the family’s unwavering commitment to artists and their considerable support for ambitious public sculpture. The realisation of each year’s exhibition is underpinned by close liaison with each artist, ensuring their work is seen at its very best, with careful consideration given to the works’ siting and to the exhibition experience of Montalto’s visitors. As sculpture prize’s come and go, John, Wendy, Neil and family are to be commended for generously sharing the beautiful grounds of Montalto with the community and for creating one of the best art experiences in Victoria.
We were especially drawn to Marcus Tatton’s Terestri Anenemi for the innovative construction of its forms, its materiality and excellent craftsmanship and for its strong environmental message conveyed with a sense of poetry and originality. The addition of microplastics injects unexpected colour to the work’s found materials drawing attention to the fraught relationship between humans and nature in this age of the Anthropocene. In counterbalance to the burden of this contemporary issue the forms sit lightly in the landscape at Montalto, highlighting the beauty of the natural world and expressing hope to future generations that building a healthy and sustainable world is not just a dream but a working reality."
