Artist Selection Announced for 2021 HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures
UPDATE 20 July 2021: Due to COVID-19, HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures has been postponed and the exhibition will run from 2 October - 7 November.
60 established and emerging artists to take part in annual cemetery exhibition.
A record 291 artworks and films were submitted to exhibit in Rookwood General Cemetery’s outdoor art exhibition, HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures.
HIDDEN returns bigger than ever with honorariums for all artists and 12 award categories representing over $40,000 in value.
The iconic sculpture walk, which began in 2009, is a unique opportunity to engage the community with Rookwood’s rich and diverse cultural landscape through the beauty of art. Today HIDDEN includes categories of Sculptures, Films and Students, providing the opportunity for an even wider range of artists to get involved.
60 artworks will exhibit in the cemetery, including sculptures, short films and community submissions featuring a range of artistic approaches, materials and forms. All artworks respond to the cemetery and engage with HIDDEN’s themes of history, culture, remembrance, diversity, love, mourning, spirituality, cycles of life and the passage of time. In 2021, Rookwood will present a broad span of works ranging from celebratory pieces that are big, bright and colourful, engaging interactive installations, through to contemplative, intimate and thought-provoking works.
Dr Fries commented that the selection process was driven by a connection between the artwork, audience and the space. “Each artwork engages with unique stories and experiences of the cemetery. The atmosphere of the cemetery is naturally contemplative, so visitors approach the artworks with a quiet sensitivity unique to the space.”
“2020 was a very difficult year for our arts communities,” said Fries, “I’m excited to again be curating this expansive exhibition which will allow visitors to engage with creative arts in this unique place so integral to Australian history.”
“The calibre of work and the doubling of the number of proposals submitted speaks to the significance of HIDDEN within the arts community of Sydney,” commented Lee Shearer, Interim CEO, Rookwood General Cemetery. “The event also attracts valuable support from local businesses and industry, enabling the exhibition to go from strength to strength. Rookwood Cemetery is an ideal setting for artists to present works with layered narratives while honouring the site’s diverse cultural history.”
This year’s HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures panel consisted of Elyse Goldfinch, Assistant Curator at Artspace Sydney, and Tim Silver, a well-known Sydney-based artist. Wendy Ramsay, Director of Professional Learning, Visual Arts and Design Educators Association (VADEA NSW) judged the student category, and independent curator/artist Talia Smith, judged the short film category.
HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures will run from 4 September to 4 October 2021.
HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures 2021 Selected Artists
HIDDEN Sculptures
Maissa Alameddine, Basketry NSW, Mark Booth, Priscilla Bourne, Cybele Cox, Farnaz Dadfar, Ellen Dahl, Suzanne Davey, Chris Dolman, Szymon Dorabialski, Kate Dunn, Tina Fox, Stevie Fieldsend, Maddie Gibbs, Karen Golland, Philippa Hagon, Hyun Hee Lee, Chloe Henry-Jones & Gabriella Boyd, Em Ingram-Shute, Lisa Myeong-Joo Keighery, Sally Kidall, Adam King, Pamela Leung, Joanne Makas, Sanné Mestrom, Mahalya Middlemist & Laurence Hall, Kathie Najar, Clare Nicholson, Katy B Plummer, Niall Robb, Leisa Sage, Bernadette Smith, Olga Svyatova, Jayanto Tan, Alan Tulloch, Josee Vesely-Manning, Lachlan Warner, Eduardo Wolfe-Alegria, Whimbrel Wilson, Anne Zahalka & Dorit Braun
HIDDEN Students
Barker College, Cabramatta High School, Cumberland Artists Together (CAT), Kristy Gordon, Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School, Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Benita Laylim, Louisa Maxim, Rouse Hill High School, Lana Zilla
HIDDEN Films
Rubyrose Bancroft, Tom Blake, Natasha Cantwell, Lynn Dennison, Amala Groom, Elise Harmsen, Danica I. J. Knezevic, Jacqui Malins, Jacqui Mills, Monica Rani Rudhar
Rookwood General Cemetery is responsible for the management and longevity of Rookwood Cemetery. We maintain 430 unique interment grounds, historic and modern memorial areas, culturally specific gardens, three beautiful chapels and a state-of-the art function centre. To further meet needs of families, we customise interment practices to respect different religious and cultural beliefs.
Rookwood is also one of the largest green spaces in Greater Sydney; making it the ideal setting to explore. HIDDEN, along with events such as tours, workshops, and open days; provide unique opportunities for the community to engage with the historic site.
Media enquiries:
Kristy Wan, Marketing & Events Coordinator
0499 910 221, kristy.w@rookwoodcemetery.com.au