"Situate" project Perth

excerpted from http://situate.dca.wa.gov.au

The jury for the situate competition - an international sculpture competition offering $1million for an art work to transform Perth’s Forrest Place - has narrowed down 202 entries received from 33 countries to five shortlisted entrants. 

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said five teams would be invited to develop their concept designs which would be publicly displayed before the final winner is chosen later this year. 

Finalists are: 

Jean-Bernard Métais, Artist Courdemanche, France

Dimmity Walker, Architect; Michael Patroni, Architect; David Walker, Artist  Perth, Australia 

Fran Dibble, Artists; Paul Dibble, Artists; John Hardwick-Smith, Architect

Palmerston North, New Zealand 

James Angus, Artist; Doug Knox, Consulting Engineer; Peter Mclean, Lighting Design Sydney, Australia 

Richard Giblett, Artist; Matthew Herbert, Architect; Jan Vastesaeger, Architect Melbourne, Australia 

Mr Day said he was pleased with the considerable international interest for the project which would help redefine Forrest Place as a vibrant part of the Perth city centre.  

“A total of 353 registrations were received from 46 countries, representing every continent except Antarctica,” he said. 

“Western Australia was particularly well represented, accounting for more than one- third of the registrations from Australia. 

“Teams were comprised of a range of professional disciplines adding a depth to this competition that may not have been achieved by a non-collaborative approach. 

“In some instances, WA professionals made links with international organisations and artists to create their submission.  

“This sort of broad thinking shows that WA is willing and able to compete internationally in quality design.” 

Jury chair Margaret Moore said the jury was impressed by the diversity of the entries and the quality of presentation. 

As situate is a competition process, no designs are available for release until after all the concept designs are received as part of Stage Two of the competition.  

Stage Two submissions and selected entries from Stage One will be exhibited in advance of the award announcement.  

The situate sculpture competition is funded by the State Government and implemented in partnership with the City of Perth, which has generously allocated space in Forrest Place for the final art work. 

The situate jury comprises: 

·    Margaret Moore (Panel Chair) - Chair of the Board of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and Program Manager: Visual Arts at the Perth International Arts Festival

·   Timothy Hill - Principal Partner at Brisbane-based architecture practice Donovan Hill

·   Simon Perry - Sculptor and lecturer at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), School of Art

·   Louise Dauth - Government Curator for the art+place program in Queensland

·    Andy Sharp- Managing Principal of international design firm, Hassell.

More information on the situate competition is available at http://situate.dca.wa.gov.au