Visitors have flocked to the South Australian Museum in their thousands to appreciate the wonderful and intriguing artworks submitted in this year’s Waterhouse Natural Science Art Exhibition.
Since it opened on 20 July, a record 14,713 visitors have come to see the exhibition of 102 finalist artworks, to be inspired and to cast their vote.
This year’s winner Judith Brown won the overall $50,000 prize with her work Flight of Fancy, which was the first fashion-inspired overall winning piece. She was also the first to win both the People’s Choice Award and the Overall Prize, in the Waterhouse’s 11-year history.
Minister Assisting the Minister for the Arts Chloe Fox said the growing popularity of the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize has been confirmed by the record visitors to this year’s exhibition.
“The Waterhouse exhibition continues to set new benchmarks for success,” Ms Fox said.
“A record number of visitors has been matched by a record number of artists from 11 different countries. This reinforces the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize’s international reputation for quality and variety.”
The 859 artists submitted works in the Paintings, Works on Paper, Sculpture and Objects and Youth categories in 2013. Over the course of the Prize’s history, artists from more than 30 countries have entered. This year, two countries were represented for the first time – Sweden and Hungary.
The competition was renamed the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize in 2013 to better reflect the Museum’s intention: to draw specific attention to the dialogue of science and art. This included a new Fibonacci-inspired logo and new series of Jam Factory trophies.
Local, national and international media covered the competition, including Channel 7, SBS, ABC Radio and Television, newspaper and magazine articles and galleries, and online publications. The South Australian Museum attracted 1061 new Facebook followers because of the Waterhouse competition.
“A lot of skill demonstrated – impressive and harmoniously curated” – Liz Basuki, Adelaide “Fascinated by the Aboriginal paintings” – Lorena Mack, Stuttgart, Germany
“Stunning display from the standard approach to the intriguing” – Denise and David Payner, Whyalla “Truly exquisite and awe-inspiring, thank you – winner well-deserving!” – Jeanne Lorraine, Darwin “Best exhibition by far!” – Cheryl Grezkowski, Tranmere
A record 10,842 votes were submitted in the Waterhouse People’s Choice Award and Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize as part of the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize this year.
The exhibition was also featured as a part of the Museum’s National Science Week program.
Winners and finalists’ works in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize is shown each year at the South Australian Museum. It ran from 20 July to 8 September 2013. Winning and highly commended entries tour to the National Archives of Australia from 19 September to 10 November.
For more information, visit www.samuseum.sa.gov.au
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