Luminous: Tom Malone Prize 2003-2017
Winner
The winner of this year’s prestigious Tom Malone Prize is Marc Leib from Perth, for his work Inner core 2016.
In Marc’s words: “I was inspired by the Japanese concept Ikigai, ‘a reason for being’. This requires a multitude of complex thoughts, delving into your own psyche, culminating in the realisation of your Ikigai.”
Judges’ comments: We congratulate Perth-based glass artist Marc Leib for his wonderfully accomplished work Inner core. A quiet work, at first glance it even seems to hide its riches. As you move closer though the piece comes alive in unexpected ways. The full form is activated by a milky, cellular-like, opaque feel enlivened by translucent highlights that give it a highly complex and animated aspect, and an almost unaccountable lightness. Marc achieves this result by ambitiously pushing traditional “murrina” cane-making and kiln-forming techniques to new ends. He makes a mould based form that far exceeds its typical small size creating an object that would usually be attained by blowing. In this way, he preserves the compression and density of the pattern. The final result is a haunting, very Australian object that is a fitting work of glass to mark and to celebrate the 15th year of the Tom Malone Prize.
Alan R. Dodge, Elizabeth Malone, Stefano Carboni, Robert Cook
Shortlist
Lisa Cahill Road trip series #2, Rain on the Hume 2016. Kiln-formed glass with ceramic decals, nine parts: 65 x 88 x 2 cm overall. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Greg Piper.
Silvana Ferrario Nozze Argentario 2016. Fused and dropped glass with silver inclusions, 33 x 24 x 33 cm. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Kevin Gordon.
Kevin Gordon Coral in blue 2016. Hand blown glass, triple overlaid colour, diamond wheel cut, sand blasting carved, brush polished, 35 x 20 x 20 cm. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Kevin Gordon.
Marc Leib Inner Core 2016. Kiln-formed glass, kiln-formed murrines, cold-worked and polished, 26.5 x 41.5 x 1.2 cm. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Kevin Gordon.
Jenni Kemarre Martiniello Bush Flowers Bicornual & Dillibag Set 2016. Hot blown glass with murine, two parts: Bicornual 35 x 30 x 17 cm, Dillibag 32 x 27 x 13 cm. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Dr Tim Brook.
Tom Moore Eyes the size of the moon 2016. Hot joined, blown and solid glass, Hxtal Epoxy, 78 x 39 x 35 cm. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Grant Hancock.
Brendan Scott French View from window 2016. Hot-formed murrine kiln-formed glass, 99 x 70 x 4 cm. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Brendan Scott French.
Blanche Tilden “Flow 03” necklace 2016. Flame-worked borosilicate glass, titanium, 2 x 26 cm. Collection the artist. © the artist. Photographer: Grant Hancock.
The Tom Malone Prize is one of the Gallery’s most treasured projects and definitely one of my personal favourites. Since its establishment in 2003, it has been our key mode of engagement with the inspiring makers that comprise the glass community of Australia. Through the shortlisting process, we keep abreast of the developments in the field, and I am always impressed by the creativity and commitment I see among Australian glass artists.
Dr Stefano Carboni
AGWA Director
Catalogue
Contemporary Australian Glass – The Tom Malone Prize 2003-2017
Available from the Gallery Shop RRP $29.95.
