Walcha sculptor Stephen Kinghas been chosen over more than 100 other sculptors, including fellow Walcha sculptor James Rogers, to be the recipient of the $60,000 Macquarie Group Sculpture Prize for his sculpture titled ‘fallout’ in 17th annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in Bondi.
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“I am happy, astounded, amazed, ecstatic, relieved and feel very lucky,” Stephen told the Walcha Newsthis week.
Sport and Recreation Minister Gabrielle Upton announced King as the recipient of the launch of the exhibition on Friday.
The $60,000 acquisitive award is the most generous sculpture prize in NSW and provides a considerable boost to the artist’s career.
This is the 15th time Stephen has had his work accepted in the exhibition and he says more than half the works have been sold either through the exhibition or subsequently.
“When I submit work in the future there will not be the concern of winning now,” he said. “Not that I feel I have a competitive nature (although my wife tells me I do) but there is always that element whereas it is really a win just to be accepted in the exhibition and have more than half a million people see your work.”Asked why he thinks this time his work
Asked why he thinks this time his work was chosen he says it is not something you can predict.
“It is not like breeding sheep or producing wool, you can’t work to fit someone’s expectations, you just have to follow your own direction and hope that the viewer and judges see what you are trying to project,” King said.
“I do find it curious though that this is the first time my work has not been figurative.”
King says he is currently producing a lot of big wooden constructions with periodic burst of smaller figurative work.
“I have been involved in construction for the last 10 years with building a house and sheds but it has just recently influenced my work.
Working with a chainsaw to produce figurative work is like a dream – you just stand back and watch the work appear while the construction process is more about envisioning the end result and then getting on with building it.”
Macquarie Group deputy chief Greg Ward, along with the judges, congratulated King on his win.
“This is a significant achievement, particularly given the calibre of the works exhibited this year,” Mr Ward said. “We hope that those who visit Sculpture by the Sea will enjoy Stephen’s work and agree that he is a deserving recipient.”
King has exhibited extensively in commercial and regional galleries within Australia and internationally since 1979. His reputation is supported by the huge body of work produced for public and private commissions throughout NSW and his representation of Australia at the Inami Wood Carving Symposium in 2007.
His work of the last 30 years will be the subject of a touring survey exhibition at Tamworth Regional Gallery in 2014.
