Media Release
10 June 2013
Dust and dirt take out top prize
Artecycle: The Environmental Art Award and Exhibition
Image: Jeremy Blincoe, ‘Untitled’, c-type print
In its sixth year, Artecycle at the Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator Gallery is as relevant
as ever, showing the power of art to convey the serious themes of environmentalism and
sustainability.
The winner of this year’s $10,000 top award is Hannah Bertram for her work Evolving
From and Devolving Towards Nothing. She has used dust and particles collected
from around the Incinerator Gallery site, which has been used to stencil a beautifully
intricate pattern on the gallery’s floor; essentially revealing the fragility of our natural
environment. It resembles a funeral wreath of native flowers, and speaks poetically
about the loss of beauty and the physicality of universal decay that exists all around us,
but often goes unseen or unnoticed.
One of the judges of this year’s award, Bronwyn Johnson, executive director of
CLIMARTE and former director of the Melbourne Art Fair, said Artecycle was an
important exhibition in the year for artists to connect with audiences about these serious
themes.
“Artistic expression has always been used to address and depict social dilemmas,
challenges and contradictions, providing viewers a safe environment to digest the
complexity and diversity of views in our society, of which environmental issues are
increasingly being examined and emerging as a social dichotomy.
“This year’s Artecycle submissions have demonstrated a move beyond the idea of just
reusing discarded objects, with artists embracing a responsible use of materials and
taking a holistic approach to sustainability, in all areas of their art practice,” said
Bronwyn.
The Incinerator Gallery
03 8325 1750 | 180 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 | www.incineratorgallery.com.au
Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr. Narelle Sharpe, said this year’s exhibition showed the
importance of sustainability across the arts sector.
“There is a growing awareness of sustainability in the arts sector and the Incinerator
Gallery is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, acknowledging and rewarding
environmentally ethical approaches to art “said Cr. Sharpe.
Arts and culture portfolio holder, Cr. Jan Chantry, said the works in this year’s exhibition
were truly diverse.
“We have been able to present a richer array of art forms in this exhibition, now that it
has been opened beyond sculpture, with a broad range of conceptual ideas from
optimistic and even romantic to sceptical and cynical in the environmental messages,”
said Cr. Chantry.
Entry to the exhibition is free.
Interviews and photos are available on request.
Exhibition Information
Until 14 July
180 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
03 8325 1750
incinerator@mvcc.vic.gov.au
www.incineratorgallery.com.au
-endsMedia Inquiries
Jack Giles
Marketing and Communications Officer
Arts and Culture – Moonee Valley City Council
+61 3 9243 1783 | jgiles@mvcc.vic.gov.au
The Incinerator Gallery
03 8325 1750 | 180 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 | www.incineratorgallery.com.au