Cedar Creek artist Antone Bruinsma has just installed a sculpture in a Sydney cemetery for this year’s HIDDEN exhibition.
More than 40 sculptures are scattered throughout one of the oldest sections of the historic Rookwood Cemetery the eighth HIDDEN exhibition which is now open and will close on October 23.
Mr Bruinsma’s work, Resurrection, symbolises the earthly and spiritual aspect of our organic existence.
“I really liked the concept of putting art into a cemetery,” he said.
“The concept came quite quickly, the continuation of life and celebrating or honoring that life by being in tune with nature.”
The sculpture carved from white sandstone took more than four months to complete and weighed about 450kg, the base added an extra 700kg.
“I wanted to try and represent the HIDDEN theme in a beautiful and poetic way,” Mr Bruinsma said.
“It is great what they are doing at Rookwood, it is an unusual venue but quite a natural one and there should be more like it in Queensland.”
Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust (RGCRT) received the strongest and most diverse response to its call for entries this year, with artists invited to ponder the notion of history, culture, remembrance and love.
HIDDEN 2016 curator Cassandra Hard Lawrie said the team were delighted not only by the creativity and imagination evident in the applications, but with the sheer diversity of interpretation of Rookwood’s place and purpose, its history and themes.
“This diversity also extends to the broad scope surrounding the origin of the works, with entries from all over NSW and interstate, and even international submissions from Japan and Columbia,” she said.
Artists Clara Adolphs of Bundanoon and Rachel Sheree of Eagle Vale were chosen for the pre-exhibition awards during the selection phase.
“HIDDEN is a true platform for community engagement, not only from the perspective of contributing artists, but towards the greater Sydney community and all of its visitors who are able to see and experience Rookwood in a new light each year,” said acting CEO of RGCRT George Simpson.
Established in 2009, HIDDEN showcases not only the artworks, but Rookwood itself, with the cemetery’s varying typographies, gravesites and historical masonry becoming an eye-catching backdrop to the works on display.
For further details on HIDDEN 2016 visit www.hiddeninrookwood.com.au.
