In September, commentary on fossil fuels, relics made from recycled materials and a reflection of Aussie beach humor will feature at Queensland’s largest outdoor exhibition, the Swell Sculpture Festival.
Fifty-eight Australian and international artists will compete at Currumbin Beach in the renowned festival which celebrates its 13th year of displaying interactive and thought-provoking works from across the country and the world. More than 250,000 people are expected to descend on the beach to view a range of sculptures across the 10-day event, with awards valued at over $25,000, it’ll be an exhilarating week.
In 2014, the striking three-metre rifle titled 'Keeping Up With The Kalashnikovs' by artist Daniel Clemmett won the major cash prize of $15,000. This year Daniel is set to return to Swell with his work 'Old Sir Ned' which is centered around immigration, racism, bigotry and the conversation of our nations.
'Embracing The Plateau' – 2010 Featuring recycled steel and car bonnets, 'Old Sir Ned' aims to raise questions on national identity and our contemporary ideologies. Daniel is an accomplished artist/sculptor with an unusual take on the world through the reconstruction of discarded and recycled materials.
What can viewers expect in terms of your work at this year’s Swell Sculpture Festival?
It could be my best work, but as an artist I like to always try to move forward both with medium and thematic, or at least think that I am!
What will you do with the $15,000 prize money if you win?
Winning Swell means being able to pay one’s bills and do a little more art, and relax, just a little.
'Idol For A Bull Market' – 2011What or who initially got you into the art of sculpting?
My ninth grade art teacher noticed I could draw and make slingshots in metal tech, so she said 'why don't you combine these two things and make something so I can pass you'. It’s not cool to fail art in year nine, so I constructed a monstrosity of sorts, and have been ever since.
Generally, how do you come up with the ideas for your work?
My work is always about getting people to question contemporary ideological constructs by looking at past ones. This year’s work explores the radicalisation of the persecuted, past and present, and also questions heroic failure. I think that good art is loved and hated. The politically correct neutral rhetoric in the middle, that's not where I am at.
'Keeping Up With The Kalashnikov' – 2014Do you find collaborations more effective than solo artistic missions?
I would love to do more collaborations but find that often the idea is better than the reality. Artists can be pretty crazy, bunch them up and more so. I think the art world’s use of the word collaboration is far more popular than the reality also.
What is your favourite textile to work with?
I work with cars, I like to draw 3D with rod steel, then car panels are the go. Mig welder, a bit of oxy acetylene and a lot of angle grinding, then two pack like a wrapper. But it is much of a muchness, an artist will always find something and there is an art to everything.
'Development' – 2009Are there any famous artists that you idolise who have possibly influenced your technique and style?
This is a call out, a salute, and I’m not naming names as there are too many, but I would like to thank all the other artists before me that have used this year’s muse. Some big names, others, not so much.
Swell Sculpture Festival is held at Currumbin Beach, 11-20 September.
