The People’s Choice Awards for the 2024 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize have been announced.
Crowd favourite Shona Williams has been awarded the People’s Choice Award at Manly Art Gallery & Museum for the second year running. Her work explores what scientists have termed the ‘insect apocalypse’ and the preciousness of these small creatures.
Northern Beaches local, Tate Boswarva, was the People’s Choice winner for Design at Curl Curl Creative Space. Her wearable art challenges over consumption, fast-fashion and the impact of plastic waste. You can read our previous story on her here.
At Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery, the People’s Choice Award for young artists and designers went to 14-year-old Sierra Knights, another Northern Beaches resident, for her beautiful creation of the endangered whale shark.
Now in its fourth year, the Environmental Art & Design Prize continues to build on its reputation with an increase of 15 per cent in entries this year from across the nation.
The exhibition features thought-provoking works by 200 artists and designers from across Australia at three Northern Beaches locations. Visitors were able to vote for their favourite work at all three venues.
Each winner receives $1000 in prize money to support their creative practices.
Manly Art Gallery & Museum – Art
Shona Wilson
Precious
insect wings and parts on Arches archival 300gms paper, 66 x 86cm
Wilson collected these insect wings and parts over a couple of decades and always squealed with delight at the chance findings. Having stored them for so long the artist decided to use them in a single work. Each found specimen was a precious jewel, both in appearance and in function. The shape they form overall is also like a jewel, glistening, alluring and beautiful.
During the making of this work, Wilson started to more consciously looking for dead insects- both surprised and sad from just how few insects were around, and how few had been found in the last 10 years. Wilson lives regionally in an area surrounded by National Parks and a ‘healthy environment’ – so where are the insects?
Insects are particularly susceptible to changes in temperature and moisture. They are experiencing what some scientists term an Insect Apocalypse. This work is a lament and an adoration for the preciousness of our natural world, and its exquisite fragility.
Curl Curl Creative Space – Design
Tate Boswarva
Occyan Morphosis
17 upcycled denim jeans, 21 metres of recycled soft plastic packaging, 8 chewing gum containers, 9 mineral water bottles, 3 takeaway containers, cyanotype dying liquid, repurposed cotton thread and invisible zipper, 60 x 170 x 40cm
Occyan Morphosis is inspired by marine life entangled in plastic waste. I envision a future where animals mutate for survival and take a journey of metamorphosis. The bolero, bralette, and trousers, created from 17 upcycled denim jeans – each stitch a reminder of the 4,000 litres of water typically required to produce a single pair – alongside 21 metres of discarded fast fashion plastic packaging and sequins repurposed from chewing gum containers, coffee cup lids, water bottles, and takeaway containers, collected over the past five years, serve as symbols of a hopeful future built upon principles of sustainability and resourcefulness.
Boswarva has utilised the sun’s energy to dye the fabric through the cyanotype process, incorporating objects that mirror ocean pollution, allowing the environment to influence the design, resulting in denim that reflects the colours of the ocean. This wearable art encourages viewers to re-imagine our relationship with the environment and embrace creativity for a greener world.
Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery – Young Artists & Designers
Sierra Knights
Always spotted but rarely seen
flour paste, paper from recycling bin, cardboard from recycling bin, used paper towel, acrylics, masking tape, 50 x 92 x 22cm
The whale shark is a vulnerable species due to habitat loss in the form of overfishing of reef fish, coastal development, land based pollution, increased boat traffic and noise pollution. Also the constant threat of fishing, harassment and boat strikes are endangering this rare fish.
I tried to bring awareness that this gentle giant is actually endangered. As a 14 year old girl shark fanatic I’d like to think I captured this animal’s beauty through my art piece. I made this whale shark out of cardboard and paper from our recycling bin. I tried my best to make it decomposable so the glue is made out of flour and water. I thought by doing this I could minimise recycling waste in my home to create art and honour the endangered fish that is the whale shark.
The Environmental Art & Design Prize continues to showcase the influence the environment has on artists and designers. In turn, using their focus on the natural world, environment renewal and regeneration to influence the community with innovative ideas, introspection and reflection.
For more information visit Northern Beaches Council
