.. Benjamin Gilbert

Practice

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IntroductionBenjamin Gilbert heads the Agency of Sculpture

(AoS) based in Yackandandah, Victoria.

AoS encompasses a skilled group of established sculptors, architecture graduates and qualified

tradesmen; capable of generating and delivering practical design solutions for the civic realm.

The AoS services several design professions. Our strength is that we offer both:

Conceptual design solutions +

custom fabrication

Clients include bespoke Architectural firms, Developers, Schools, Government, Theatres +

Galleries within Australia, Scandinavia and the Baltics.

Commissions range from public furnishings, monumental sculpture, architectural interiors,

landscape and playground elements.

Emphasis is given to the importance of place, exploration of material properties and the pursuit

of sculptural form.

A passion for sculptural qualities coupled with pragmatic rural sensibilities form the foundation of

Benjamin’s pluralist method.

Humpback Gunship, in the permanent collection of AROS Danish Contemporary Art Museum,

reveals an appetite for architectural scale sculpture.

“habitable scale permits the innocent to embody implicit concepts”

Working with various materials such as ice, timber, stainless steel and more recently stone.

His practice extends into consultation, community construction and project management.

Four years professional practice in Europe and Russia inform the creative approach to furniture

design and sculpture

Holds a postgraduate degree in Fine Artsfrom the University of Tasmania.

Benjamin’s projects range from a permanent ethnographic ice sculpture exhibition in Lofoten,

Norway - to the interior of an historic gaol in Richmond, Tasmania.

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Long-neck

Turtle carapace spiritual destiny chariot

Sculpture by the sea, Bondi 2010 5 x 3.5m

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Address5 Back Creek Rd YackandandahVic 3749

ContactM. 0437255833E. ben@agencyofsculpture.comW. www.agencyofsculpture.com

Abn 41 431 864 895

| Agency of sculpture |

© Benjamin Gilbert 17 April 2010

3.5m

3.2m

1.6m

Head-hole through carapace.

- top view -

- side view -

- front view -Hearth in centre of plastron ( base ).

Title : - Long-neck -

Sculptor : Benjamin Gilbert

Concept : This Long-neck turtle carapace is the scale of a small shelter. With the minor modifica-tion of a hole, it becomes an architectonic device capable of generating ontological insecurity. The central hole allows for a visitors head to protrude, exposing it to the universe at large. The hole also acts to vent the hearth if a fire is lit.

Designed to be explored both inside and out, this sculpture arose from ideas that appeal to notions of a utopian childhood preserved. Long-neck is both description and suggestion.

As a child I heard of ghastly colonial horseback be-headings, the victims were indigenous children bur-ied up to their necks in sand. I could not reconcile this brutality with the cosmos of life’s possibilities orbiting my school age mind.

Mythologically the turtle often represents the uni-verse, but at this scale it’s a spiritual destiny chariot piloted by satirical neo-pagan youth theatrically departing a compromised planet.

Long-neck is capable of providing dignified refuge to the needy and is also an attractive destination for a picnic. A nod to the moral responsibilities of public sculpture, and to the glorious children whom spit upon rules.

Materials : Stainless steel and Copper.Weight approx : 400kgSize : 3.5 x 3.2 x 1.6m

“See the TURTLE of enormous girth!On his shell he holds the earth.His thought is slow but always kind;He holds us all within his mind.On his back all vows are made;He sees the truth but mayn’t aid.He loves the land and loves the sea,And even loves a child like me.”

Stephen King : Dark Tower Series

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IMPORTANCE OF

PLACE

The Old Green Shed, as its known in the family, housed a flimsy metal table which would have

reflected the fluro over-head, if it were ever clean.

My fathers vice, a wooden jawed antique, earned a worn thread during the later years of my youth. Both bench and vice participated

handsomely in the structural experiments that denote my design rationale.

Eroded creeks crossed the family property and they became quarters to many of Old Green

Shed’s tools.

More accurately:- the fecund clay banks bound by a canopy of roots inherited the tools by

default.

Undercut and inhabited by spiders, yabbies and at one time a keen wombat, the slippery clay

banks nurtured my childhood imagining.

A rambling noble savage returning to his humble home. Every tree, stone and shadow

between creek and shed my declared domain. Over time, many an earnest dwelling depleted

the store of tools.

A camouflaged fox-hole stinking of eucalyptus was the most solitary expression of domicile

pursued.

This severe and unfurnished den resembled a lazy grave. Swelling from its surrounds, it was fashioned entirely from twigs and leaf litter - as

much a hazard as habitation.

Adventurous developments however required true collaboration. From multi level jungle lairs

to the blackberry fortress, sibling projects seeded design relationships that continue to

this day.

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Peace Arch +interpretive sculptural elements

Victoria Cross interpretation.Stainless steel and granite elements

Peace SquareWodonga

2010

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Matted flax lilly

Lyndarum EstateEpping Melbourne

12 x 6m 2010

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Icehotel

Swedish Lapland

2003-5

SnowflakeIce + Torne riverstone centre

Apparently, snowflakes form around a particles of dust

Swedish Lapland 2005 3 x 3m

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Icehotel

Swedish Lapland Room 307

Seeking an experience of the vast Torne river which is seasonally covered in snow.

2005

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Lumi

Marionette animation projectStills from Icehotel roof sequence

Sweden 2005

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Dancing on Ice

1st place. 14th Perm International Ice competition.

Rashid - master artist.Benjamin - assistant.

Leonid - engineer.Russia 2006

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Cobb highway touring routesculptural furniture.

Mathowra to WilcanniaSouth West NSW

2007

LONG PADDOCK FURNITURE

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Atlas

Designed and fabricated with my mentor

Mr Kalle Pruuden of Estonia.

An entrance piece and totem for Atlas specialty metals,

Wodonga, Victoria. 8 x 2 x 2m

2006

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Victorian Space Science Education Centre

Gregory Burgess Architects

Landing pod and feature wall for the submersive space educational

environment. Strathmore Secondary College.

Melbourne 2006

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Chiltern lamps

Designed to compliment the towns historic central reserve.

Uses ocean beacon LED technology.

2007

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J O H N S T O W E R

“1956”

Contains an original TV antenna of the same year.15m tall

2006

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DENI UTE MUSTER Iconic Gateway Project

The letters were designed to withstand revelers clambering as traversing

the gate is an unofficial rite-of-passage for Bundy enthusiasts.

31 x 8 x 3m2009

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preferred site - east

MURR AY VALLE Y HIGHWAY

meter0 100

location of "rising cod"

6,00

0

6,200

4,000

3,70

0

1,80

0

2,000

1,80

0

900

MURR AY VALLE Y HIGHWAY

meters

0 10MAX WATER LEVELAFTER HEAVY RAIN

1800x900 STAINLESS STEELMURRAY COD

SITE PLAN

LOCATION PLAN

SEC TION OF "FISH RISE"

| AGENCY OF SCULPTURE |

"COD RISE" SUBMISSION 1 / 2

Q043/09 YA R R AWO N G A PUBLIC ARTS PROJECT

"COD RISE" AFTER RAIN

Y A R R A W O N G A

Town entry proposal

A large Murray Cod rises and breaks the quiet shadows,the trees reflection archs into a labrynith of ripples.

Functions as a playful rest stop for travellers.Designed to partly submerged after rain.

Photo montage : Christopher Gilbert

2010

preferred site - west

MURR AY VALLEY HIGHWAY

0 100meter

location of " trees re�ection"

meters

0 10

MURRAY VALLEY HIGHWAY

10,550

12,0

00

1,80

0

900

900

400

900

400

900x400 STAINLESS STEELMURRAY COD

900x400 STAINLESS STEELMURRAY COD

1800x900 STAINLESS STEELMURRAY COD

MAX WATER LEVELAFTER HEAVY RAIN

LOC ATION PLAN

SITE PLAN

| AGENCY OF SCULPTURE |

"TREES REFLECTION" SUBMISSION 2 / 2

Q043/09 YARRAWONGA PUBLIC ARTS PROJECT

" TREES REFLEC TION" AFTER RAIN

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COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2006

Vaulters

Sumsion Gardens Wondonga.World champion vaulter Emma Geoge

inspired the theme.

Realised with Rashid Sagadeev, Master artist from Archangelsk, Russia

2005

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HUMPBACK GUNSHIP

A small plaque reads:

Formally in military service, this gunship was found washed up on the

coast of Darwin mid 20th century. Faithfully restored, ‘Cherry Blossom’

now transports vital air freight to Japan.

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Permanent collection.

AROS Contemporary Art GalleryAarhus, Denmark

2009

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Architectonic sculpture.

In proportion with civic realm commissions, my personal sculptural projects tend to be large.

Projects often embody the pragmatic concerns of play spaces, suggesting qualities of

architecture.

I conceive sculpture as being an event.

Education

2003 Honours. Thesis ‘Idealization of Nature’. University of Tasmania.2002 BFA Tartu Kunstikool, Estonia.1999-1996 BFA Furniture and sculpture majors. University of Tasmania.

Exhibitions

2010 Long-neck. Sculpture X Sea. Bondi.2009 Humpback Gunship. AROS contemporary art museum. Denmark. 2007 Shear Outback. Sculptural furniture. Hay NSW.2004 Hansanova projects, Foreign Objects. Estonian Art Academy, 2003 Le Boudoir du Styx Nov 19_25 Tasmania. Handmark Gallery.2002 Eco Born: Prototype furniture. Tallinn Raekoja, Estonia. & Copenhagen.2000 Shade: Ethnographic furniture. Yackandandah. Solo show.2000 Spirit Level – the next big adventure. Solo show. The Artists Garden, Brunswick St.

Commissions

2010 Dianella amoena, 5 pieces. 12m tall. AVJennings Lyndarum Estate. Melbourne.2009 Stainless and granite sculpture. White Box Rise, Wodonga.2009 MTC custom foyer furniture, Southbank boulevard. Melbourne.2009 Poetics board Albury city Library.2009 Suspended shell, Edgecliff apartments Brighton Melbourne.2009 Youth art project. Tallangatta.2008 Ute Muster festival sculptural gateway. Deniliquin. NSW.2007 Long Paddock Touring route sculptural furniture, Cobb highway. NSW.2007 Coleambally town entry statements. NSW.2006 Ned Kelly’s siege. Figures for Indigo Shire.2005 Pole vaulters, Sumsion Gardens, project for the Commonwealth Games.

Competitions

2010 Long-neck, Sculpture X Sea. Bondi beach Sydney.2008 NAB Children’s choice prize. Sculpture X Sea. Bondi beach Sydney.2007 Mayors prize, Russian Ice Cup, Salekhard.2006 1st place. 14th Perm International Ice competition. Russia. Team event.2006,5,4 Latvian Ice Competition, Jelgava. Jan 20-27th 2005 Vaasa Ice competition. Finland. Feb 24-28th2004 Artists choice prize. Norwegian Ice championship. Malsalev. Jan 2nd. 2001 Best new furniture. King Valley art competition.1997 1st prize. Alvar Aalto design competition. University of Tasmania.

C.V Dec 2010

Benjamin J Gilbertb. 1978

sculptor - designer