Artist humbled at being awarded Sydney artist residency line

Media Release
24 March 2012

Artist humbled at being awarded Sydney artist residency line

Canterbury artist Wayne Youle has been awarded the SCAPE Christchurch/Artspace Sydney artist residency. As recipient of the residency, Youle will receive twelve weeks' accommodation at Artspace - Australia's leading international residency-based contemporary art centre. He will also receive return flights, domestic travel within Australia, the opportunity to give a public presentation of his work via the Open Studio@Artspace programme and a SCAPE public talk upon his return to New Zealand.

Youle says “The residency is a major achievement and will surely be important in my career and the future of my work. I look forward to the ability to work without many of the hurdles we all have as artists. The freedom to focus and create a body of work each day while surrounded by other creative people from other countries will give me the chance to have critical discussions regarding the work I make. I look forward to the time in Sydney and am humbled by the selection.”

Youle’s art practice is varied and ranges from painting and sculpture to photography, ceramics and bronze casting. His work is highly regarded and has been shown in public gallery exhibitions including “Close Encounters” at the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, “10DOWN, A survey of Wayne Youle’s practice” at the Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures in Porirua and most recently a giant shadow board mural in Sydenham, Christchurch with Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu and Gap Filler which was inspired by memories of his grandfather’s tool shed.

More than twenty five applications were received for the residency which was available to Canterbury-based professional visual artists. Blair French, selection panelist and Executive Director of Artspace Sydney says “I have been involved in numerous assessments for residency programmes around the world and this was perhaps the most competitive of all.”

French continues “We are thrilled with the outcome of the selection process. Wayne’s work is bold and direct yet deceptively sophisticated. It addresses urgent matters of the day, looking to both reflect and draw audiences into dialogue regarding the belief systems, the stories and the very real social and material circumstances of contemporary society.”

Youle says that he makes work in response to his culture, environment and everyday experiences. He plans to use the book “Dark Night: Walking With McCahon” by Martin Edmond (2011) as a creative source for the work he will create during his residency. In Edmond’s story, Colin McCahon is seen disappearing into a public toilet in Sydney’s Botanical Gardens, and is then missing for 28 hours before being discovered in Centennial Park, with no recollection of what had happened to him or where he’d been. Youle says “There are so many paths to take with this story as my guide.” The selection panel commented that “Youle’s proposed residency project is both poetic and investigative, looking to tap into important shared histories and mythologies that link Australia and New Zealand.”

SCAPE Director, Deborah McCormick says “The SCAPE Christchurch/Artspace Sydney residency has been created as an investment in the arts in Christchurch and Canterbury. We aim to provide opportunities for local artists to develop their skills and to be exposed to new creative stimulus. We would like to congratulate Wayne and thank him for accepting the residency. The number of high quality applications received has strengthened SCAPE and Artspace’s desire to try and extend this residency programme beyond 2012.”

The residency will take place from August to November 2012.

ENDS

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