National Sculpture Prize travels to Sydney

04 September 2006

Eight works from the National Sculpture Prize, including Glen Clarke’s winning entry American Crater Near Hanoi #2, will go on free public display in Sydney on Monday 16 January.

The sculptures, by seven of last year’s finalists, feature ground-breaking work by some of Australia’s best contemporary sculptors, using a variety of materials including dollar bills, starfish and a termite-hollowed tree trunk.

They will be exhibited at Macquarie Bank’s headquarters in Martin Place until 10 February.

Macquarie Bank Foundation Head Julie White said the exhibition was a perfect addition to Sydney’s January arts calendar.

“These works are beautiful, original and thought-provoking,” she said. “It is well worth taking a few minutes to view these sculptures by some of Australia’s most talented artists.”

The National Sculpture Prize was established in 2000 as a partnership between the National Gallery of Australia and the Macquarie Bank Foundation to support and promote Australian sculpture.

Held every two years, it is one of the most prestigious awards for contemporary art in Australia, with a prize of $50,000 for the winning entry.

The 2005 National Sculpture Prize attracted a record 636 entries and was one of the National Gallery of Australia’s most popular exhibitions.

Finalists works have been exhibited at Macquarie’s Melbourne office and will also travel to Brisbane in February.

Exhibition details:

The free exhibition can be viewed on the Mezzanine level at Macquarie Bank’s headquarters, 1 Martin Place, Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm, from Monday 16 January until Friday 10 February. Enter from Pitt St.

For further information, please contact:

Karen Boalch, Macquarie Bank Foundation on 0401 287 935
karen.boalch@macquarie.com 

Alix Fiveash, Marketing and Communications, National Gallery of Australia on 02 6240 6431 
alix.fiveash@nga.gov.au

Matthew Russell
Public Relations
Macquarie Bank Limited
Tel: (612) 8232 4102
Mobile: (614) 1069 9532