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Posted 14 September 2010 |
The first of two public sculptural artworks will be unveiled following its installation at Mirvac
development, The Royal on Tuesday 14 September 2010.
Designed and created by established Melbourne sculptor Geoffrey Bartlett, Nautilus stands five and
a half metres tall and is made of half a tonne of stainless steel.
Bartlett said he wanted to create a piece that reflected the beachside location while paying respect
to the Novocastrians who have strong ties to the site of the former hospital.
"Having studied the form of shells for more than 15 years I am fascinated by the natural
engineering of such a delicate, yet structurally strong form such as the nautilus shell," Mr Bartlett
said.
Designed to be visible both day and night, the top component of Nautilus (the shell) is lit by two
coloured LED lights that create a soft colour hue, making it appear like a floating orb.
Mirvac CEO Development NSW, John Carfi said the piece will make a wonderful addition to the
extensive public domain that is about to be opened up at The Royal.
"Experienced Australian artists were approached to submit strong examples of contemporary
sculpture which commemorate the rich cultural and social history of The Royal site.
"Residents of Newcastle were invited to vote on the website, to create a shortlist of three pieces.
"A panel of judges consisting of artists, architects, art administrators, Newcastle City Council and
Mirvac representatives then chose two pieces to be installed into the development.
"The judges universally praised the sculpture commending Nautilus for its dynamic night-lit form
and daytime interplay with the beach views," Mr. Carfi said.
Representative of the beachside location – Nautilus will be installed at the top of stairs near the
walkway to Newcastle Beach.
Geoffrey Bartlett is no stranger to Newcastle; he created the piece The Beacon located near the
Cowper Street Bridge in 1999.
The second artwork Paper Whale will be installed in time for the opening of the Sebel Newcastle
Beach in November 2010.
The Royal is a landmark residential, retail, hotel and public plaza project for Mirvac. Two-and threebedroom
apartments are now available for purchase. |
Posted 8 March 2010 |
Mirvac’s new public sculpture winners a celebration of
beachfront art.
Mirvac announces winners of The Royal public sculpture competition Two new public sculptures will soon take pride of place on Newcastle Beach as leading property group, Mirvac, announced the winners of its sculpture competition for its landmark beachfront development, The Royal.
The judges universally praised the sculptures, commending Nautilus for its dynamic night-lit form and daytime interplay with the beach views, and the wit and youthful playfulness of the origami-inspired Paper Whale.
Newcastle City Council General Manager and judge, Lindy Hyam, particularly admired the winners for their resonance with Newcastle's diverse society.
"I loved the sculptures' public accessibility. These are not remote works to sit in the distance, but can be enjoyed, touched, handled and engaged with, forming a living part of the culture," said Lindy Hyam.
"They manage to bridge the city's iconic beach and surf cultures with modern stylistic interpretations of where Newcastle is heading as a contemporary city."
Mirvac NSW development chief executive officer, John Carfi, lauded the winners for their outstanding and flawlessly executed concepts.
"Australian's love the beach and we love a bit of culture. Together, the site-specific sculptures will enhance the viewer's experience of both art and the phenomenal natural beauty of The Royal's beachfront site.
"We're thrilled with the winning works and what we hope will be seen as a great cultural addition for the people of Newcastle," said Mr Carfi.
Mirvac will install the two sculptures in The Royal's public plaza and above a stairway to the beach as part of its residential, hotel and retail redevelopment of the former Royal Newcastle Hospital site – one of the oldest and most revered hospitals in Australia.
Royal Newcastle Hospital Heritage Trust's Dr John Duggan, a former doctor at the hospital, has described the sculptures as a worthy tribute to the glorious history of the hospital and its contribution to health care.
Also delighted with the winning sculptures and their prominent public placement is Newcastle Region Art Gallery director, Ron Ramsey.
"Newcastle's reputation as a creative city is well served by great public art to be enjoyed as a communal focal point by all who frequent The Royal's civic domain," said Mr Ramsey.
"Both winners are nationally significant artists who will bring, like The Royal development itself, an extraordinary quality and finish to the city.
"With Geoffrey Bartlett in successful mid-career and Jasper Knight and Isabelle Toland younger artists still forging their way, they represent both Newcastle's past and future," he added.
The two sculptures should be completed and ready for installation in their new beachside home by the middle of the year. |
Posted 22 January 2010 |
Finalists announced in Mirvac's sculpture competition for The Royal
Leading Australian property group, Mirvac, has announced the finalists for two major
public sculptures at The Royal, a landmark residential, retail, hotel and plaza development
underway on Newcastle Beach.
As the sculptures will be located on The Royal's civic domain, the selection of finalists was
thrown over to the community in a popular vote. Six sculptures have risen above the
competition as well as two wild card entrants, chosen from a field of 11 accomplished
entrants.
Mirvac CEO Development NSW, Mr John Carfi, says the prominence of the spectacular
beachfront site and generous commissions of $100,000 and $60,000 on offer for each
sculpture have attracted artists of national repute.
"We're thrilled with the quality of all the sculptural entrants and the high level of public
interest in the competition," says Mr Carfi. "The eventual people's choice finalists,
however, clearly struck a chord in evoking the special place the site holds in the hearts
and minds of Novocastrians."
Once home to the revered Royal Newcastle Hospital, The Royal's two sculptures – The
Beach and The Promenade – will pay tribute to the bond between the hospital, patients
and the beach as well as the promenade's importance in the life of Novocastrians and the
local Aboriginal community.
Finalist and celebrated Melbourne artist, Marguerite Derricourt, has two sculptures in final
contention: Beach House, an illuminated shell form symbolising the former hospital as a
seaside refuge, and Outlook, whose silver gulls are inspired by patients gazing out to the
coast.
Internationally acclaimed Newcastle sculptor, Vlase Nikoleski, also has two successful
entries. Recovery is a giant marble surfboard and bronze sundial imprinted with a
stethoscope and footprints. The second is his stainless steel Serpent, evoking both the
promenade as a gateway and its importance to the local indigenous people.
Sydney artist, John Petrie, already known in Newcastle for his Pasha Bulker sculpture on
Nobbys beach, offers On Duty – a suspended, moving stainless steel towel. It represents
the legendary signal once used to call off-duty medical staff in from the beach in
emergencies.
Also nominated is Paper Whale by three-time Archibald Prize finalist Jasper Knight and
his architect wife, Isabelle Toland. It symbolises both whale sightings by patients and the
natural shapes of the shoreline.
The wild card entry for The Beach is Nautilus by established Melbourne sculptor, Geoffrey
Bartlett. Lit by night, this work's open nautilus shell form allows light and beach views to
break through by day.
For The Promenade sculpture, the wild card is by noted Australian sculptor, Paul Selwood,
with Promenade Views. This sculpture synthesizes the location's changing vistas - the
waves, the headland and the architecture of the precinct.
From here each artist receives $500 to create a maquette, or small-scale model, for final
judging by a panel of artists, architects, arts administrators, Newcastle City Council and
Mirvac staff. The two ultimate winners will be announced in May this year.
To view all the entrants and finalists go to royalnewcastle.com.au.
The complete list of finalists for The Beach are:
- Beach House by Marguerite Derricourt
- Recovery by Vlase Nikoleski
- On Duty by John Petrie
- Nautilus by Geoffrey Bartlett (wild card)
Finalists for The Promenade are:
- Outlook by Marguerite Derricourt
- Paper Whale by Jasper Knight & Isabelle Toland
- Serpent by Vlase Nikoleski
- Promenade Views by Paul Selwood (wild card)
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