Blue Mountains artist Daniel Kojta won the $20,000 Scenic World Acquisitive prize for his sculpture on April 23.
Mr Kojta’s sculpture, titled Reflect Phi [a moment] was one of 35 works from as far as America and Ireland on exhibition along the rainforest floor in the second Sculpture at Scenic World event.
Scenic World’s joint managing directors, Anthea and David Hammon, presented the award on behalf of the Hammon Family Council at the exhibition’s official exhibition.
The winning work consists of three sculptures translated through the mathematical Phi formula of Australian natives.
“It was an incredible opportunity to receive the award at an exhibition that is growing and supporting professional contemporary arts in the Blue Mountains,” said Mr Kojta.
The judges said the winning sculpture was a unique response to site that reflected both a modernist and contemporary approach.
“What appealed to us about Kojta’s work was its beguiling ability to reflect subtly the immediate environment and successfully create a dialogue between the geometric and the organic,” they said.
Last year’s winner from Wollongong, Greer Taylor, was highly commended this year, along with Nigel Harrison and Ireland’s Darragh O’Calloghan.
Exhibition manager Lizzy Marshall said Sculpture at Scenic World had again “pushed the boundaries of on-site responsive art”.
“All of our exhibiting artists have magnificently created within the context of an environment that is adherent to the complexities of sculpture and its mass, tension, formalist ideals and narrative objectives,” she said.
Australia’s only dedicated rainforest sculpture exhibition includes the indoor Sculpture Otherwise exhibition, and public programs featuring guided and independent tours, free evening lectures, and family and children’s activities.
Sculpture at Scenic World is open until May 19.
