Prizes literally poured down on The Glue Society's raining house "I Wish You Hadn't Asked", when Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus proudly revealed the prize recipients of this year's exhibition.
Five artists and artist groups were presented with prizes, when Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus unveiled the recipients. Mayor of Aarhus Nicolai Wammen initiated the festive - and somewhat soaked - award ceremony, by thanking the 65 exhibiting artists and all the companies, organizations, individuals and volunteers who made the realization of Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus 2011 possible.
The rain was pouring gently down when Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus presented three prizes, one chosen by a curatorial panel, one as voted by the visitors of the exhibition and the final one selected by the children as their favorite.
The Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus prize of 50.000 DKK
The Glue Society with their sculpture "I Wish You Hadn't Asked" was selected by a curatorial panel composed of Søren Taaning, visual artist, Maria Fabricius Hansen, dr. phil. lector at Aarhus University and board member of Ny Carlsberg-fondet and finally Cai Ulrich von Platen, visual artist.
Søren Taaning explained their choice:
"I Wish You Hadn't Asked masters the art of storytelling. The artwork is powerful in its ability to create images and affects its visitors with excitement and amazement in equal measurements. The exceptional artwork also includes its location at Tangkrogen in a great way, as well as involving its audience. Wholeheartedly, and with great enthusiasm, we present the Glue Society with the Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus Prize of 2011."
Unfortunately the Australian artist James Dive, member of Glue Society and key person behind the raining house, was unable to attend the award ceremony. However he sent his warm regards from Australia:
"I would like to say how thrilled and honoured I am that I Wish You Hadn't Asked has been awarded at Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus. I truly believe my house couldn't have found a better home than the city of Aarhus. I would like to thank everyone at Sculpture by the Sea for their support, their talent and their belief in this project. I would also like to say thank you to the people of Aarhus. Thank you for your encouragement, your words and for simply putting on a raincoat and walking into a raining house. And thank you to my neighbouring artists who often popped in to say hello, and those who helped me move all the furniture in late that cold night. I distinctly remember the moment when the house began to rain for the first time in Aarhus. I was alone in the house, my boots were filling up with water and I could hear nothing but rain. It was a magic moment and one I am very thankful for. See you all in two years."
People's Choice Prize of 25.000 DKK
Via the website of DR's Art Club, everyone was able to vote for their favorite sculpture. Many decided to do so, and their choice fell on Keld Moseholm's sculpture "The Obelisk".
Kids' Choice Prize of 25.000 DKK
Throughout the exhibition period the children were able to vote for their favorite sculpture. Just as the curatorial panel did, the children liked the fun, crazy and soaking wet raining house. Therefore the Kid's Choice Prize went to The Glue Society with their sculpture "I Wish You Hadn't Asked".
Five additional prizes were presented by some of the sponsors of Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus:
Vestas’ Prize of 20.000 DKK presented to Phil Price with his sculpture ”Nucleus”.
Mobility Specialist, Trine Larsen, Vestas:
"Phil Price's kinetic sculpture "Nucleus" have impressed us by its use of wind forces. Wind means everything to Vestas, because we work entirely with wind power. We clearly see a correlation between this magnificent piece of art and our work with producing competitive, independent, fast and clean energy created by the powers of wind."
Nordea-fonden's Prize of 20.000 DKK presented to The Glue Society's sculpture "I Wish You Hadn't Asked".
Nordea-fonden's prize was selected by Gitte Ørskou, director of museum Kunsten in Aalborg, with this reasoning behind:
”I Wish You Hadn’t Asked is one of the exhibition's most remarkable sculptures in several dimensions. It defines conceptual and technical standards of contemporary art, as well as engaging its audience in a way that is more deep than just the light entertainment, while still being 'catchy'. It conjures an immediate reaction and a subsequent reflection, and that is why we have chosen to present this sculpture with Nordea-fonden's Prize."
Arlas Prize of 20.000 DKK presented to Hiroaki Nakayama with his sculpture ”Came Back”.
Bestsellers Prize of 20.000 DKK presented to Kent Karlsson with his sculpture ”Spectacle Agnostico”.
Dansk Australsk New Zealandsk Venskabsforenings Prize of 15.000 DKK presented to Phil Price with his sculpture ”Nucleus”.
The sunglasses stays in Aarhus
The auction house Lauritz.com has througtout the exhibition period hosted a charity auction named 'Give a sculpture to Aarhus' to raise money to buy one of this year's exhibited sculptures. At the award ceremony Lauritz.com revealed that their choice fell upon the gigantic, colourful sunglasses "Sea Pink" made by the artist Marc Moser. Mayor of Aarhus, Nicolai Wammen, received the sculpture-gift with great enthusiasm. In the future it can be experienced briefly outside ARoS, before being moved to a more permanent location.
After the award ceremony, Sculpture by the Sea Aarhus unveiled the results of the various contests, and the fortunate winners went home with different prizes, such as a vacation for two in Australia.