June 06, 2017
ARTISTS ANNOUNCED AS SWELL CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
Over 600 artists have exhibited at SWELL since its humble beginnings in 2003 and in 2017, another 50 artists have been selected to join this distinguished cohort.
Celebrating its 15th year, the 10-day exhibition has been instrumental in engaging the community in a vibrant cultural dialogue, as Australian and international artists display diverse works highlighting a range of social, environmental and contemporary issues.
Transforming Currumbin Beach into a breathtaking outdoor gallery, 50 artworks both whimsical and provocative, will delight for the free, family-friendly exhibition taking place from September 8 to 17.
The exhibition will include works by renowned Indigenous artist Michael Nelson Jagamara, as well as crowd favourite Monte Lupo and father-and-son duo Philip and Alex Piperides – with Philip also leading masterclasses at this year’s festival.
More than 275,000 visitors will descend on the beach to wander among sculptures of all sizes, as artists vie for a range of coveted awards valued at more than $25,000, including the major award of $15,000.
SWELL’s founding director and curator Natasha Edwards said this year’s successful submissions included many artists exhibiting at SWELL for the first time.
“With SWELL now reaching the significant milestone of 15 years, the event is highly regarded as a platform of wide exposure for both emerging and established artists, and we are incredibly proud to present works by several new artists this year, alongside sculptures by artists who have contributed to the evolution of SWELL over a number of years,” Ms Edwards said.
She said the event had grown into an integral part of the Gold Coast’s cultural identity and was recognised by the international art community as a showcase of artistic diversity.
“When visitors walk amongst the sculptures this year, they will enter the minds of incredible artists, who visually articulate and stimulate conversation through the display of their work in the open landscape at SWELL,” she said.
Longtime SWELL artist Christopher Trotter said the event provided artists with an important avenue to display their works to the public on a large-scale.
“It was always fun to watch the public engage and interact with the pieces. SWELL has given me the opportunity to keep that tradition alive,” said Mr Trotter, who has exhibited each and every year. To signify this longstanding contribution, Trotter will also feature at Northerly SWELL this year.
This year’s curatorial panel included Ms Edwards, fellow SWELL director Ruth Della, Gold Coast City Art Gallery director Tracy Cooper-Lavery, Dr Chris Bennie and, CREATIVEMOVE and Onespace Gallery director John Stafford.
Mr Stafford said this year’s selection represented a diverse range of sculptural approaches while delivering on high-calibre standards.
“From stand-alone, well-executed pieces to thoughtful site-specific installations, we see talented local artists curated into sharp relief against an impressive group of national and some international artists,” Mr Stafford said.
“Conceptually swaying from populist to political, to philosophical concerns, visitors to this year’s SWELL will be able to segue intellectually and emotionally among some of the finest temporary outdoor sculpture from across Australia.
“Monumental, fascinating, delicate, or simply perplexing, this engaging exhibition will also inspire and provoke both local and visiting artists to the region to enter for next year’s challenge for selection,” he said.
In 2017, selected artists include 32 from Queensland, including 11 Gold Coast artists, 11 from New South Wales, two from Western Australia, and three from Victoria, as well as three international artists from Austria, Turkey and Taiwan.
SWELL Sculpture Festival
Date: September 8 to 17, 2017
Location: Pacific Parade, Currumbin Beach
Cost: FREE
SWELL Sculpture Festival is a not for profit arts organisation.
SWELL Sculpture Festival is proudly supported by Connecting Southern Gold Coast Ltd., the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, and Tourism and Events Queensland as a part of the vibrant calendar of events on offer throughout the State.
Connecting Southern Gold Coast Ltd proudly supports SWELL Sculpture Festival.
2017 ARTISTS
QUEENSLAND
Abraham Tongia
Alicia Lane
Antone Bruinsma
Casselle Mountford
Christopher Trotter
Clayton Thompson
Giuseppe Filardo
Guy Cooper
Jacqueline Damon
Jordan Azcune
Joy Heylen
Karl de Waal
Kymberley McElroy
MJ Ryan Bennett
Michael Nelson Jagamara
Michael Van Dam
Miles Allen
Oliver Shearer
Phillip and Alex Piperides
Rosi Griffin
Philipp Kirsch
Sean Williams
Sha Sarwari
Stephanie Puggioni
Suzi Lucas
Tom Lawson and Dave Bell
Wayne Markwort
Village Bike Inc (collective)
Manning Daly Art
NSW
Al Phemister
Alison Allcock
Daniel Clement
Gabriel Rosati
Jan Cleveringa
Jeanette Krohn
Joe Stark
Lance Seadon
Paul Harrington
Sally Simpson
Vince Vozzo
VICTORIA
Ben Carroll
Jonathan Leahey
Sonia Payes
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Claire Davenhall
Jina Lee
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Greg Johns
INTERNATIONAL
Manfred Kielnhofer (Austria)
Yunghsu Hsu (Taipei)
Yesim Ustaoglu (Turkey)
Monte Lupo (collective)