About Karl de Waal
Karl de Waal studied art at COFA receiving his BFA in 1992 He has been maintaining his practice ever since. Twice selected as a finalist for the prestigious Wynne Prize and a myriad of other competitions his work is seen as off-beat and resonates with the echoes of Dada. He believes his work is quite simply a commentary of watching the world trying to make sense of its paradoxes and ironies. His work is hard to pigeon hole as he utilizes an abundant array of diverse styles and mediums but believes collage, assemblage and chance are the driving principles which guide his practice. In a contemporary world, where the bulimic consumption of experience and knowledge saturates us, his work seeks to remind us of the fragility of humanity.
2022 SWELL ARTWORK – A Blessing of Unicorns, Karl de Waal
The last couple of years have been trying times. With an inability to move freely we have been forced to look for the beauty and magic in the banality of the everyday. This sculpture is a result of hope. Vintage saw-horses and vintage furniture legs have been combined to create a visual reference to the mythical Unicorn. Utilising garish paint combinations, shimmering glitter and a dash of irony these objects transcend the mediocrity of their origins becoming something more, metamorphosing into a blessing of Unicorns.
Instagram: @karldewaal
Come and see for yourself at SWELL Sculpture Festival, Pacific Parade, Currumbin 9-18 September.