Sculpture by the Sea winner is James Parrett from Victoria
The work M-fortysix has been announced as this year’s winner of the major Aqualand Sculpture Award, the richest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Wentworth Courier
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THE winner of the Aqualand Sculpture Award, the major prize at Bondi’s Sculpture by the Sea, is James Parrett from Strathmore, Victoria for his work M-fortysix. It was chosen from 107 sculptures entered from 21 countries around the world.
The winner receives $70,000 for the acquisitive award, increased from last year’s prize money of $60,000. The work will be given to Sydney’s Harbour Trust and shown alongside previous winners at Georges Heights Headland Park Artist Precinct at Mosman.
“M-fortysix is one of those sculptures that was very special to me all the way from model to finished form,” Parrett said. “I am blown away that the judges loved it as much as I do. I can’t wait to see it at its new home in Headland Park and hope the public will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.”
The award, the most generous in the Southern Hemisphere, is usually announced on the opening day of the world’s largest annual, free-to-the-public, outdoor sculpture exhibition.
This year heavy rain hindered the installation of some of the sculptures at Bondi so judging couldn’t be finalised by October 18, the first day of the three week display.
The recipient of the Waverley Council Mayor’s Award of $5000 went to Mu Boyan from China for his work Horizon, the large fleshy man in a Buddha-like pose sitting on the south Bondi headland in Marks Park, that has also been a hit with visitors.
“I am so glad to see Australian people like my work,” said Mu Boyan. “I very much appreciate Sculpture by the Sea and give my thanks to the Waverley Council. I had a wonderful time in Sydney and enjoyed beautiful Bondi Beach.”
Sculpture by the Sea shows until November 4 and attracts about 450,000 visitors.