2015 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Winner
Congratulations to Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, winner of the 2015 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award.
Awarded $50,000 this acquisitive prize aims to support the development of rich, vibrant and diversity within ceramic practice. Winning artist, Ramesh’s work strikingly stole the judges attention with its playful investigation of religion and gender.
Deputy Director, National Gallery Australia and former Director of SAM Kirsten Paisley described the work of Ramesh as “an extraordinary body of major sculptural works that are exceptionally exciting.” Ramesh focuses “on diverse sources from pre-colonial Hindu devotional sculpture to Christianity and sexualized bodies he explores fertility and creation, religion and gender. His work evokes the energy and reverence of `the deity’ while embodying the playfulness of a story-book action hero.”
This year the exhibition at Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) includes the work of five contemporary artists, including Adam John Cullen, Penny Byrne, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Ruth Hutchinson and Sanné Mestrom.
Drawing attention to the unique distinction of each artist’s practice, SAM Acting Director and judge Rebecca Coates outlined, “each of the five artists shortlisted has created an outstanding new body of work that not only extends their own artistic practice, but also challenges our understanding of ceramics within a contemporary context”.
A focussed exhibition that highlights the exceptional work of only five artists, the Award acts a platform to view a greater depth of an artist’s work.
Ms Coates outlined the judging criteria, stating, “the conceptual premise of the work and approach to the opportunity; technical ability and engagement with materiality; and spatial considerations – how the work inhabited the space. The work also needed to be innovative, to challenge, excite and intrigue.”
The works are on show until the end of November.
EXHIBITION
2015 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award
Shepparton Art Museum
Until end of November
Image courtesy of the artist and Shepparton Art Museum
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