Dunedin artist’s vision rewarded
A DUNEDIN artist who usually specialises in large sculptures, recently turned her hand to creating a smaller piece, and won a national award for her efforts.
Motoko Watanabe was awarded the 2018 Small Sculpture Prize at a ceremony at the Waiheke Island Community Art Gallery on Friday for her untitled work created from used fabric.
Judge Matthew Von Sturmer said Mrs Watanabe’s work continued to intrigue him. He had kept returning to it to explore the questions it raised, he said.
‘‘It has characteristics that are technically refined and meaningful and encourages the viewer to seek a deeper meaning.’’
The $3000 prize, New Zealand’s only award for small sculptures, was in its ninth year.
Speaking from her home in Mosgiel yesterday, Mrs Watanabe, who did not attend the event, said she was ‘‘very pleased, and very surprised’’ to receive the honour.
She usually specialised in works spanning 2m or more, but had created the piece specifically to enter in the award because of the calibre of the judges, she said.
She had used old fabric lying around the house, including socks and linen, to create the 65cm sculpture.
The 48yearold was born in Yokohama in Japan and studied classical Japanese painting, before working in commercial art sales for galleries in Tokyo.
Seventeen years ago she travelled to New Zealand to learn English but ended up staying for good.
‘‘I found my husband in Timaru.’’
She had taken up sculpting about nine years ago. While she had sold a few pieces, she said working in art sales in Japan had turned her away from the more commercial side of art.
‘‘I didn’t want to make work to sell.’’
Instead, Mrs Watanabe said she was interested in art for art’s sake.
‘‘I really just want to keep improving.’’
Her longterm goal was to tour her larger sculptures around the country.