No longer ‘hidden’: 44 sculpture exhibition finalists announced

HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures is an annual free-to-visit outdoor sculpture exhibition, running since 2009. It takes place amongst the pathways and gardens in one of the oldest sections of Rookwood Cemetery, on Dharug Land. It is the largest and most multicultural cemetery in Australia: rich in heritage, traditions, and layered narratives.

In 2023 has three categories: Sculptures, Schools and Stonemasons. The exhibition will span contemporary, diverse, and traditional art forms.

Exhibition Curator, Dr Kath Fries said the exhibition’s panel received 124 entries across all three categories, responding to themes which either explore Rookwood’s contemporary relevance, diverse cultural practices, historical significance, celebration of life, personal stories, or evocative sense of place, contemplation, history, cycle of life, death, grief, mourning, love and remembrance.

‘I am particularly excited about this year’s exhibition. Alongside an intriguing range of contemporary artworks by midcareer, established and emerging artists in the long-running Sculptures section, HIDDEN has expanded to include insights into the creative imaginations of school children and teenagers in the Schools category,’ Dr Fries said.

2023 finalists include:

Sculptures: Kealey Bacic, Glenn Barkley, Lachlan Bell, Corey Black, Caitlin Bowe, Celine Cheung, Cole Cochran, Harry Copas, Crackpot Studios (Caroline Wright, Mandie Robertson, Sarah Robertson, Bridget Willis), Lisa Hölzl, Kumiko Delaney, Szymon Dorabialski, Entanglement (Belinda Piggott, Dinah Taprell, Jane Lush), Stevie Fieldsend, Emily Greenwood, Sylvia Griffin, Hyun Hee Lee, Virginia Keft, Soyoun Kim, Benita Laylim, Karlina Mitchell and Lee Mitchell, Clare Nicholson, Nicole O'Regan, Leyla Oz, NC Qin, Taryn Raffan, Monica Rudhar, Jayanto Tan, Jane Theau, Dianne Turner

Schools: Amity College, Ashfield Public School, Barker College, Cabramatta High School, Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School.

Stonemasons: Dylan Brooks, Sach Killam, Daniel Kilminster, Luke McDermott, Harold McLean, Matt McLennan, Matthew Johnson, Josh Tilden, Daniel Tranter-Santoso. 

The HIDDEN 2023 exhibition takes place from 21 October to 19 November 2023. Learn more at www.hiddeninrookwood.com.au