The winners of Waterhouse Natural Science Art PrizeAustralia’s first biennial prize for art in the natural sciences, has been announced ahead of the finalists’ exhibition at the South Australian Museum, which opens tomorrow, Saturday 4 June.

South Australian artists Kyoko Hashimoto and Guy Keulemans won the open category award for their work Bioregional rings (central coast)a showcase of natural materials extracted from the same bioregion.

Another South Australian artist, Deb McKaywon the Emerging Artist Prize for his work Fragile forms – delicate porcelain sculptures that pay homage to the human body that evolves with age.

Having received nearly 500 entries from across Australia and overseas, and with 71 artists shortlisted, the award celebrates its 20^e year with flying colors.

It commemorates the birth of the South Australian Museum’s first curator, Frederick George Waterhouse, and gives artists the opportunity to investigate the world around them.

Entrants are challenged to create artwork (excluding photography) that encapsulates their views on any science that studies the natural world, including but not limited to history science, biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry, physics, medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology.

“It’s fantastic to see an increase in entries for the competition, including so many incredible pieces that depict critical issues in our environment,” said Brian Oldman, director of the South Australian Museum and one of the prize judges.

“I hope viewers of the exhibition will leave with a feeling that is both artistically enriched and scientifically informed.”

Deb McKay– Fragile forms

Sculpted entirely by hand in porcelain, Deb McKay’s work is a study of movement, time and aging inspired, but not dictated, by natural forms.

The judges commented that “Deb McKay demonstrates extraordinary technical skill and meticulous attention to detail. The great diversity of natural forms evokes the complexity of life on Earth. The use of fragile porcelain as a creative medium is a metaphor for the fragility of the natural world that the artist describes.

Inspired by the concept of aging, McKay draws a parallel between the sense of deterioration she experiences as her body ages and the corrosion of the natural world.

“My work is imaginary and sometimes playful, but the inspiration is always nature,” she says. “Our world is fragile and deteriorating, often due to external forces and not just natural deterioration. I became a grandmother this year and I can’t help but ask this question: in the future, will my grandson only be able to see our natural world in glass boxes in the museum? »

The emerging artist award was $10,000 in cash.

Kyoko Hashimoto and Guy Keulemans – Bioregional rings (central coast)

The stunning sculptural ensemble of Hashimoto and Keulemans is constructed from a wide range of natural and found materials from a narrowly defined bioregion.

“These materials range from geology formed millions of years ago to wood, natural sponges and marine plastic washed ashore,” the judges commented. “Their work allows this diversity of media to artistically speak for itself while illustrating the range of forms that can be found in the contemporary world.”

The couple worked outdoors searching for rocks and the remains of plants and animals on beaches, abandoned coal mines and other places on the central coast.

“COVID lockdowns really helped this process because we had more time to comb the Central Coast beaches,” they say. “Some of these pieces have been molded into specific shapes, while others have been kept natural to show off their incredible vibrancy.”

The duo had challenged themselves to design and manufacture materials from one location, instead of sourcing them from around the world, after deciding designers needed to work to be more sustainable by shortening chains global supplies.

“While the interconnectedness of global economies provides many favorable conditions for manufacturers, it is also easy to knowingly or unknowingly contribute to the destruction of the natural environment,” they say. “We want designers, artists and industry to think about their supply chains and the potential of the local and nearby natural world to provide production materials.”

Hashimoto and Keulemans will win a cash prize of $30,000.

See the work yourself!

The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize exhibition will run from June 4 to August 7 at the South Australian Museum.

Visitors to the exhibit can vote for the Dr. Wendy Wickes Memoriam People’s Choice Award, given to the finalist artist judged by visitors for having communicated the most meaningful scientific message in the spirit of the competition.

Winners and highly commended works will then be visited at the National Archives of Australia in Canberra.

Tickets are on sale now and you can see the full gallery of finalists here.

Open Prize finalist, The copper herbaria, by Jan Shaw, New South Wales. copper foil and copper wire