Nicholas Samartis, ‘Mother’, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2022. Photo Nicholas Samartis
“You always return to your first love, and for me, it was sculpture and the study of it,” says Sydney based artist, Nicholas Samartis.
Exhibiting for his first time at Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, this year, his work ‘Mother’ is positioned at the start of the groyne. It is a “preoccupation of our perception of parenting”.
Nicholas is also the recipient of the Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation of $5,000 to exhibit in Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2022, donated by Katrina & Craig Burton.
Created from concrete, fibreglass, wood, plaster, stainless steel and plastic, this work aims to “playfully depict the demands placed on a parent (of any gender).”
“The diving board is tilted, just as life is tilted against us sometimes. The work explores the preoccupation of our perception of parenting,” says the artist.
“I worked for many years in a 2D art form and now I am devoted only to the sculpture format. And what a wonderful context Sculpture By The Sea have created for us to exhibit our work. As Henry Moore said, ‘Sculpture is an art of the open air. Daylight, sunlight, is necessary to it, and for me, its best setting and complement is nature.’
It is a real thrill to be selected to exhibit work alongside only the best and imaginative artists from around the world. So thank you to the wonderful team at Sculpture by the Sea,” he said.
‘Mother’ is one of 70 artwork on display until the exhibition before Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe closes 21 March!