HIDDEN: A ROOKWOOD SCULPTURE WALK 2011

The third annual HIDDEN Rookwood Sculpture Walk was created with the support of Arts NSW, in partnership with the Auburn City Council and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. Unlike previous years, the 2011 outdoor exhibition was featured amongst the graves in one of the older sites of the cemetery and neighbouring areas.

With views of the city on the horizon, this site offered artists a rare opportunity to showcase their work in an extremely thought provoking context. HIDDEN invited audiences to explore the iconic site whilst admiring the 36 evocative works. HIDDEN 2011 also featured a new media work in the All Souls Chapel, an extensive public program that included a writer’s workshop, cemetery tours, dusk ceremony and a high school education program. This year’s HIDDEN exhibition was also supported by a new curator, Cassandra Hard Lawrie.

Visitors to Sydney’s Rookwood Cemetery will were able to experience the third annual Sculpture Walk from 7 March – 8 May 2011.

For the first time, HIDDEN provided four different awards this year.
The Anglican and General Cemetery Trusts offered a non-acquisitive award of $5,000.00 for one artist. The award has been given to a well-considered and original outdoor sculpture that poignantly deals with the themes of the Rookwood site. Michael Needham was winner of the Rookwood Necropolis Sculpture Award for his art work “Hauntings of the Imaginary”.

In partnership with Auburn City Council, an award comprising of a one month residency at the Peacock Gallery and Auburn Arts Studio, including the opportunity to exhibit his work in a solo show at the site, was given to Benedict Ernst.

In partnership with Sydney Olympic Park Authority, an award comprising of the use of one of the Armory’s studios over the early December 2010 to mid-February 2011 time period was offered to Kylie Bowles.

In partnership with The GroundSwell Project, HIDDEN offered a $500.00 People’s Choice Award. Audiences had the opportunity to vote for their favourite sculpture or installation in the exhibition. Melissa Laird convinced the audience with her art work “Threads for the Sacred Space”.