The Invited Greats of SWELL Sculpture Festival 2023
Invited artists bringing innovation and inspiration to SWELL
AMIGO & AMIGO
SYDNEY/SHANGHAI
LIGHTHOUSE
Worldwide, lighthouses are a symbol of overcoming adversity, a symbol of salvation and safety. In a pandemic impacted world, they are a place for shelter and optimism amongst the global storm. The Lighthouse will be a beacon for those visiting, a rotating light source inspiring curiosity and discovery. The artists Amigo & Amigo have explored traditional boat fabrication materials when creating the work. The lighthouse stands at 10.5m tall featuring an animated rotating light at its peak, the body of the work is made up of recycled boat sails that diffuse light through its body.
More about Amigo & Amigo
We believe art brings people together, inspiring a collective sense of play and wonder. In 2012, Simone Chua founded Amigo & Amigo with the desire to create art that brings joy to public spaces. Her passion for building community has enabled Amigo & Amigo to expand, bringing on some of Australia’s leading creatives and engineers. The diversity and talent at Amigo & Amigo has skyrocketed the studio’s success, seeing their projects being realised internationally throughout Australia, Asia, South America, USA, Europe and the Middle East. Our artistic vision is to continuously explore the transformation of environments into memorable experiences, inviting real audience interaction with the work.
ALEJANDRO PROPATO
ARGENTINA
SAILING THE BEACH
The immensity of the beach meets the ocean, generating a unique space where a simple beauty inhabits, composed only of sand, waves and wind. SAILING THE BEACH is a work where time stands still, revealing the act of sailing in a synthetic geometry that is related to the simplicity of the beach. From the beach we see on the horizon the beautiful sails inflated by the wind that convey the feeling of freedom. I invite you to physically enter that feeling, I invite you to a space of freedom
More about Alejandro Propato
Al works with industrial materials to create organic and natural forms. He imbues a sense of gentleness and movement into works to create a new object to challenge our perceptions. He believes that beauty can be created from whatever we have at hand, as long as we use ingenuity, integrity and artistic endeavor.
Al is inspired by the natural environment, his wife and his family. His work reflects his love for them and their home.
Al likes to share his art and skills with others, and has established himself as a leading advocate on reusing waste through his waste to art workshops. Al uses these workshops to help recognize that while an item has been used, it can have a new life as art.
Al is a leading advocate for local and regional artists, supporting and promoting local art shows, festivals and is the curator of a permanent exhibition showcasing regional artists.
THE GREATS SERIES IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY MAJOR EVENTS GOLD COAST
IMAGE: Courtesy of the artists