The Inaugural Sculpture Award, 2021
How did it begin?
In the early 1980’s, Hannah Peschar had the vision to create the Sculpture Garden. Even with no artistic training, she understood that one of the best ways to discover artists was to visit formal art schools and scout for talent. The first exhibition featured a small group of recent graduates - and some of those are still exhibited at the garden to this day. Hannah’s vision to not only create the harmony between art and nature that we continue to celebrate, but also to help the launch the careers of emerging artists is something truly inspiring. Through Hannah’s lifetime running the Sculpture Garden, she continued to support new artists. After all - one never knows quite how big they will become! After Hannah’s retirement in 2015, new curator Vikki Leedham continued this tradition - understanding all too well how hard it is to get a foot in the art world. Having given lectures at art schools, reached out and become an advisor to student projects, Vikki knew that the imagination and passion of some of these students was really quite extraordinary.
In autumn 2020, after what can only be described as the most challenging year almost anyone can remember, assistant curator (at the time) Rob Cowan came to work one day inspired and outraged by the powerful David Attenborough documentary “A Life on Our Planet“.
“I want to do something. I want to use my art to spread the message of the documentary - to spread awareness and fundraise for WWF-UK” Rob said.
“Well, let’s do it!” Replied Vikki.
And so the award was born. Named after Hannah Peschar herself, whom sadly passed away in August 2021 - the team at the Sculpture Garden know she would be absolutely thrilled and extremely proud of what her creation has become.
Reaching out to various London art schools, a relationship was forged with Cowan’s alma mater Camberwell College of Arts. Together with a representative from WWF-UK, The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden came up with a brief for the students to create sculpture or installation. One of the key campaigns of the WWF is the fight for sustainability. Therefore, the main goal for the project was to highlight the use of sustainable materials. Surrounding the theme of sustainability, and inspired by the Sculpture Garden itself, the students responded with a varied, dynamic, and captivating collection of work.
10 students’ work from across the elected degree and MA courses was exhibited in the Sculpture Garden for 6 weeks alongside our 2021 exhibition. The WWF-UK and Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden team chose their favourite sculpture to win the award, and to remain in place at the Sculpture Garden until the end of the 2021 season. The winning artist received mentoring from the team at the Sculpture Garden over winter 2021-22, and the chance to exhibit the resulting works in the 2022 exhibition. The project was so warmly received by Sculpture Garden visitors, that a decision was made to also create a ‘People’s Choice’ award where visitors could choose their favourite. The winner also won the opportunity to exhibit within the main collection for 2022.
The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Award - Returning for 2024!
The brief has been set, the students inspired…..watch this space!
The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Award - 2022
For this year’s award, we approached the team at Surrey Wildlife Trust for a collaboration. We are thrilled to announce this year’s award is themed around the final paragraph from ‘The Origin of Species’ by Charles Darwin, where he poetically and eloquently describes ‘The entangled bank’. Students were encouraged to be inspired by not only the Sculpture Garden itself, but also the notions described in the below paragraph.
“It is interesting to contemplate an entangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other, and dependent on each other in so complex a manner, have all been produced by laws acting around us.” - Charles Darwin
Exhibiting Students
On display 30th June - 5th August 2022
Lola Baert
The thought in its entanglements stoneware, earthenware, raku ceramics, steel 2022
They are crawling their way through the damp earth. They arise from it. Entangled in themselves, embracing nature. Birds can rest on them, plants can grow around them and embrace them. Dirt from the bird's feet will enhance the fingerprints left in the clay. When it rains they will look darker and heavy. When the sun shines they will look lighter. They are trying to go their own way but they are so dependent on each other.
Douglas Parsons
Transfer glazed and painted ceramic 2022
The vibrancy of life and engaging presence of the abundant woodland within the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden has an aura of mysticism and symbiosis which I aimed to highlight within my work.
I was not looking to compete with this environment, in drawing the spectator’s eye, but rather to demonstrate an ecological cohesiveness and use my work as a catalyst for the viewer to engage further with the landscape they find themselves within. This prompted me to revisit two books, ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ by Peter Wohlleben and ‘Finding The Mother Tree’ by Suzanne Simard’. Following this, I read ‘Entangled Life’ by Merlin Sheldrake. All these books delve into the extraordinary world of fungi and their role within the mycelium network the ‘wood wide web’.
This inspired me to push for an installation that would demonstrate unity, connectivity and the deep-rooted communication systems present in this ecosystem. With the use of clay, a material from the earth, I hoped to provide this visual representation of the transfer of energy and elevate the unseen.
Laura Porter
Entangled Bank I, II and III steel, recycled clothing, resin 2022
roots, arms, worms, stems, tails, tongues, leaves, stalks, veins, bones, trunks, tentacles, intestine, legs, growing, stretching, reaching, moving, resting, looking, consuming
My practice deals with themes of development and decay, the dual presence of which forms a critique of productivity against the backdrop of growing, global eco-consciousness, and explores the body as a site of action; imagining a world void of humankind, where our debris forms a new consciousness that grows and shifts like the natural world in which it exists. Using clothing - an object that has had an intimate relationship with the body - my practice systematically deconstructs and rebuilds these garments to reflect absence and presence, labour-intensive processes of the body, and repeating systems that exist in the natural world; calling us to question these continually evolving cycles.
The participating students will be filling the custom-created instagram feed with take-overs throughout their development and installations, so watch this space!
The three participants of the 2022 sculpture award all had new and exciting ventures set in place upon graduating - be it flying back to their native country, setting up their own gallery, or expanding their studio practice in a way that was irrelevant to the work that was on display at the Sculpture Garden. Therefore, there was no formal winner of the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Award in 2022.
The People’s Choice was won by Lola Baert.
Exhibiting Students
On display 24th June - 1st August 2021
AMBER LUNT ‘Resilience of Ephemera’
Kombucha leather, agar bioplastic, bamboo, recycled lead free solder, recycled glass
Resilience of Ephemera plays with abstract compositions whilst reflecting upon the art world’s material landscape and how its role within utilising materials ricochets between inciting a sense of intrigue and curiosity upon the viewer and societal innovation. The biodegradable materials have been grown from bacteria as a bi-product of the drink, Kombucha, then the bamboo highlights natures abundance, and the glass draws attention to the alchemical versatility of nature. The dialogue between the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden delineates the harmony between modern material technology and nature; the seeming fragility of the piece tantalises concepts of durability and transience, which is perhaps reflected onto the delicate eco-systems within our natural landscapes.
DIMITRIS AGAPIOU ‘Perspective’
perspex acrylic, threaded rod, nuts, metal wire.
For my piece at the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden I wanted to frame and celebrate nature in a simple way, using frames. Frames are structures that hold pictures or memories in place. The multiple pictures that can be formed from the installation could become a memory for the viewers that could get hold of and also create a memorable and unique experience. This interactive installation aims to show the difference of positioning and the different sides a sculpture could have when either seeing through it or from the side.
GWYNETH GAUNT ‘Cerrig’
slate
These sculptures are made from entirely upcycled materials to highlight the importance of sustainable sculpture. The slate was reclaimed from a reclamation yard, having originated from quarries in North Wales, I am returning it to its natural environment amongst the green plushness of the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden. The fluidity of the shapes are inspired by the forms found within the garden and depending on where you stand to view them, the sculptures can blend into the beautiful scenery.
JIM TUCK ‘Wild telescopes’
found objects
These Wild Telescopes made from fallen branches and dried grasses celebrate nature through their form, materiality and the views they highlight. They are made to encourage interactivity with a sense of playfulness and child-like curiosity. By using materials from the garden they explore ideas around protecting nature, creating small scale interventions that put sustainable materials at the heart of the making process.
JO GABRIELLE SHEPPARD ‘Cocoon’
surplus aluminium
The spaces within the sculpture are as important as the materiality, as they allow the lush location to visually connect with 'Cocoon'. I am interested in communicating the idea of how a cocoon, something usually so small, is an important and integral part of the vast organic network that provides biodiversity. A protective shell surrounds a sphere-like open form in the centre that will shine in the daylight or moonlight. Although this sculpture is made from surplus metal it can quiver in the wind.
I feel I would be most happy seeing ‘Cocoon’ embedded into an environment outside with the occasional squirrel running up it, perhaps using it as a ladder to climb into a tree!
LONG YUAN ‘Breath’
If neither the earth nor plants breathe, will human beings have any chance to breathe in fresh air? Undoubtedly, this is the last thing we would like to face. Hence, I design this work called “Breath”.
“Breath” is an artistic sculpture able to test the carbon dioxide concentration around the plant. It can convert the concentration values into colours of lights.
ARMANDS MAXIMILJAN KLAVINS ‘Unda’
recycled glass, recycled single use plastic, bio resin
Unda is an oasis, a place full of joy,
It is here where love and hope deploy.
A place in balance between the forest,
the sea, bright sunset gold, and a human tourist.
A body of your favourite water, Sparkling pure with loud laughter.
We are welcome here for life, to sonder,
So we need to take care of our majestic unda.
MELINDA WINTER ‘Buoy’
rope, willow, thread, and glazed ceramics.
The duality of process and materiality is primary within my practice. This work was created as a direct response to the importance of sustainability.The coiled rope buoys are inspired by maritime law, whereby a buoy signals an object that was discarded at sea during treacherous times and retains claim to the attached artefact. These hand-woven objects represent the turmoil of survival and questions the decisions made during a state of emergency.
ROB POSTLE ‘Preening Pigeon’
bronze, concrete
My sculpture arises from an ongoing interest in depicting wildlife especially in urban spaces and environments. I chose in particular to portray a feral pigeon; a bird which is at best taken for granted and at worst reviled. I made this choice based upon my interpretation of the brief, which was to imagine a world where we are in harmony with nature. The urban pigeon is an embodiment of a creature that due to its lowly status deserves greater respect and understanding. It is also representative of the ethos that all lifeforms matter equally on this planet and must co-exist harmoniously if mankind's relationship with nature is to survive and thrive.
PHOEBE CARRARO ‘Assiduity to a Wildflower’
timber, recycled ceramics
These pieces capture and preserve the beauty of the natural wildflower. Being made from recycled crockery, they conserve the imagery of wildflowers permanently. The organic shapes harmonise with the naturally occurring shapes found in the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden; and the two sculptures ascend in height to display a realisation of an ever-growing world. These sculptures are designed to bring awareness to the environmental impact on the world that we cherish, and to bring an awareness to the importance of conserving our wildflowers and the beautiful eco-system that they create for our planet.
The Winners of 2021
‘Perspective’
Perspex acrylic, stainless steel
Our overall winner - as voted for by the team at the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden - is ‘Perspective’ by Dimitris Agapiou
Dimitris’ concept for framing and celebrating views of the garden caught our imagination - and he wanted to encourage viewers to interact with the piece by demonstrating how a sculpture can drastically change depending on the angle from which one approaches. He was clever in his material choice - researching materials that are sustainable because they will last and last. So often sustainability is just thought of as recycling, or finding natural products. Furthermore, should one wish to do so the perspex element of his sculpture can be melted, reformed and reused. We were impressed by the quality of Dimitris’ work, and also his professionalism throughout the project. He was also the winner of the People’s Choice, as visitors really enjoyed how the piece altered as they walked round it - and how the clever choice of material reflected and refracted the surrounding woodland.
‘Buoy’
rope, willow, thread, and glazed ceramic
Our runner up - as close second for the People’s Choice is ‘Buoy’ by Melinda Winter.
Melinda’s organic rope forms were suspended within the twisting branches of an acer. Their naturalistic forms felt perfectly at home within the lush surroundings of the Sculpture Garden, and Melinda included some delicate ceramic pieces that reflected our use of fine tree props around the Garden. ‘Buoy’ was a close second behind ‘Perspective’, and so it gives us great pleasure to award the People’s Choice to Melinda.
