Wiry cow earns top arts prize
It looks like an effigy of a beef carcass that you might find hanging on a butcher’s hook, and it has just won one of the country’s top arts prizes.
Napier artist Asaki Kajima has scooped the Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award for 2020 with a Salvador Dali-inspired sculptural artwork entitled Space Cow.
‘‘I’m very much a hands-on person and in this piece you see the hand of the maker,’’ declared awards judge James Wright when he announced the winning work at a ceremony at Hamilton gallery ArtsPost last night.
‘‘It’s raw and simplistic, but it’s heartfelt and that comes through. It’s how a farmer sees the animal when it’s hung, but it’s also an artwork you see on three levels with the shadows it throws.’’
Kajima earns the top $5000 prize for her work, which was selected through a blind-judging process from 28 finalists – all of which are now on display at the gallery until August 3.
The annual award challenges artists to create sculptures using No.8 wire and other agricultural materials. Wright said the exhibition provided a wonderful vehicle for a genuinely New Zealand creative mentality.
‘‘The ability within our artistic community to turn an agricultural supply material into a compelling creative work is impressive. Everyone who can should take the opportunity to visit this uniquely Kiwi art exhibition.’’
He said he chose pieces that resonated with him and spoke to his head and heart, but they were difficult decisions because the quality of all the works was very high.