The Lake Art Prize Finalist Exhibition | The Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie | 2020 - 2021
'A Touch of Salt', 2020, BRT and underglaze, 22 x 23 x 23cm
'A Touch of Salt', 2020, BRT and underglaze, 24 x 26 x 26cm
Museum of Art and Culture, Lake Macquarie, NSW Australia
The Lake Art Prize Finalist Exhibition
12 December 2020 - 7 February 2021
‘A Touch of Salt’
Inspiring and mysterious, both the Great Barrier Reef and Northern Territory’s largest salt lake; Lake Amadeus reflect on ‘Where there is Water’ and demonstrates a dramatic geographic reliefs possible with the distances encountered upon mainland Australia.
High above two magnificent natural features of Australia seen from a light aircraft, this work is inspired by the contrasting colours and motifs, and also demonstrates a then and now stance. Lake Amadeus is a reminder of what once was; the stretching, dry salt crust reflecting the thriving and living Great Barrier Reef.
Salt lakes form from receding ocean reef from millions of years ago. The salt remains after the water evaporates, leaving evidence that there once was water. Lake Amadeus is situated about 50km north from Uluru and is prohibited for the public to visit. This magnificent mirror of grey hues can only be seen via the air. Lake Amadeus remains untouched by humans and is free from salt mining due to Indigenous Land Ownership.
Fossilised coral can still be found around Uluru, echoing the Great Barrier Reef situated in Northern Australia, off coastal Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, the brightly turquoise water filled with marine life reaching 2300 km.
Both ceramic vessels imitate the colours of these water bodies; tones of grey and turquoise in the pattern of water baskets, metaphorically containing the water and salt within.
About the Lake Art Prize, A National Biennial Acquisitive Prize for Contemporary Australian Art
Launched in 2020, this inaugural The LAKE Art Prize is to be a key event in the cultural calendar, bringing outstanding Australian contemporary art practice to Lake Macquarie. Contending artworks will reflect on the theme of water (in any of its forms) and will be across all media and disciplines, including (without limitation) sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, installation, sound.
In addition to the great appeal of the finalist exhibition, this major acquisitive Prize will signal ongoing development of Cultural Collections of Lake Macquarie, as an exhibition resource and community cultural asset. Through the Prize, Lake Macquarie City acknowledges the vital role played by the Arts in the broader community.