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Cypress, gel medium, pigment, MSA varnish
770 x 100 x 100cm
2012 Montalto Sculpture Prize Winner
Acquired 2012
A tall, slender timber form rises from the lawn, its two carved elements twisting upward in a simple, linear gesture. The sculpture’s smooth surfaces and elongated openings create a sense of lift and quiet optimism. Positioned overlooking the vineyard, it introduces a vertical pause within the landscape that visitors encounter from a distance and appreciate more closely at ground level.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Christabel Wigley
Christabel Wigley is an Australian sculptor whose practice centres on carved timber forms, material sensitivity and pared back visual language. Her work often explores the relationship between natural structures and human emotion through refined, minimal gestures.
Wigley’s sculptures are known for their clarity and restraint, typically carved from singular timber trunks that retain a sense of organic origin even as they are shaped into abstracted forms. Her practice engages with balance, tension and the quiet symbolism of simple shapes. Recurring themes include the interplay between humanity and nature, the emotional resonance of line and form, and the capacity of minimalism to communicate hope, fragility or connection.
SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Winner 2012 Montalto Sculpture Prize
Exhibited widely in outdoor sculpture exhibitions across Australia
Recognised for a distinctive carved-timber sculptural language
Ongoing practice exploring the meeting point of nature, form and emotional expression
Wigley at Montalto
Fingers Crossed was created and acquired in 2012 as part of the Montalto Sculpture Prize, where it was awarded the winning commission. The work reflects Wigley’s broader practice through its carved timber form, minimal intervention and quiet symbolism.
Standing prominently on the lawn, with views across the vines and valley, it embodies the artist’s intention to express a simple hope that harmony between humanity and the natural world will prevail. Its height and gentle twist connect directly with the rhythms of the surrounding landscape, making it a subtle but memorable vertical marker within the estate.
FURTHER INFORMATION
