EMERGING SYDNEY ARTIST JOEL ASLER
JOELADLER PEOPLESCHOICE SCULPTUREBYTHESEA by Caroline Russo | on November 11, 2019	| 0 comments | in arts | Like it
EMERGING SYDNEY ARTIST JOEL ADLER AWARDED
ALLENS PEOPLE'S CHOICE AND KIDS' CHOICE PRIZE AT SCULPTURE BY THE SEA, BONDI 2019
Joel Adler, Viewfinder, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2019. Photo: Henrique Fanti
Sculpture by the Sea and Allens is pleased to announce Sydney-based artist Joel Adler as the recipient of this year's Allens People's Choice Prize of $5,000 for his reverse periscope sculpture Viewfinder. Adler also received the Kids' Choice Prize of $5,000 donated by Rebel Penfold Russell OAM, as voted by the children visiting the exhibition.
Built from weathered-steel and a large bilateral mirror, the artwork is positioned off the cliff face at the end of the south Bondi headland, providing visitors with a unique view of the waves beneath previously unseen from the coastal walk. Adler sought to use the power of reflection to create a new perspective for passersby.
Adler is an emerging industrial designer with expertise in metal fabrication, his practice focuses on site-specific sculpture and furniture. He graduated from UNSW Industrial Design in 2017 and is now working on a number of projects using recycled materials and offcuts. This year, he was one of the two recipients of the Clitheroe Foundation mentorship program, for which he received $15,000 towards the completion of the sculpture and mentorship from a local artist of his choice, Chris Fox.
On receiving the award, Adler said: "The focus for me in creating Viewfinder was how humans interact with our natural environment, winning the Allens People's Choice Award is confirmation that people want to engage with their environment in ways that they haven't before. This is a huge push for me to continue exploring and trusting crazy ideas."
This is Adler's first time exhibiting at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, he'd previously visited the exhibition every year as a child and has aspired to be part of it ever since.
Said Founding Director, David Handley AM, "What an outstanding work by a first-time exhibitor. Joel received an unprecedented one in three votes from the exhibition's visitors. The artwork deserves a permanent home. It would be wonderful in so many places including the end of a jetty, the top of a building or a cliff top, garnering considerable attention for the location."
The Hon. Don Harwin, Minister for the Arts presented the Allens People's Choice Award. He said, "It's wonderful to have local artist Joel Adler win this year's People's Choice Award. Congratulations to Joel and all the participants in the 2019 Sculpture By The Seafrom Bondi to Tamarama."
Said Ross Drinnan, Partner at Allens: "We are delighted to be able to present the Allens People's Choice Award to Joel Adler in what has been another outstanding exhibition with so many sculptures that visitors loved."
All recipients receive a beautifully crafted exhibition trophy gifted by long supporting sponsor Dinosaur Designs.
ABOUT SCULPTURE BY THE SEA
Sculpture by the Sea is a series of exhibitions presented at Bondi, from 24 October – 10 November 2019 and at Cottesloe Beach in Perth from 6 – 23 March 2020. Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi began in 1997, as a one-day exhibition run by volunteers featuring works by 64 artists and attended by 25,000 visitors. Since then, the event has grown to become the largest annual sculpture exhibition in the world featuring numerous esteemed international artists and is enjoyed by approx. 450,000 visitors over 3 weeks.
ABOUT ALLENS
Allens is a leading international law firm servicing clients throughout Asia and Australia. The firm maintains some of the world's longest ongoing client relationships, and works with more than 75 of Australia's top 100 companies and 55 of the world's top 100 companies. Through its alliance with Linklaters, Allens' global network spans 40 offices across 28 countries.