FUSE GLASS PRIZE

Yusuké Takemura Finalist
JAMFACTORY HAS ANNOUNCED EIGHTEEN OUTSTANDING FINALISTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE 2020 FUSE GLASS PRIZE.
 
FUSE GLASS PRIZE FINALISTS
ESTABLISHED ARTIST CATEGORY:
Yusuke Takemura  (NSW)

Yusuke Takemura is sculptor from Osaka in Japan. Takemura completed his Bachelor degree in glass from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts in Japan. In 2009, he continued his studies in Australia completing a Masters Degree in Studio Arts at The University of Sydney. Takemura’s innovative cutting glass methods are a daring fusion of traditional techniques along with contemporary knowledge that he has developed to translate ideas relating to human experience, memories and history. These intriguing poetic forms are subtle investigations the infinite relationship between the bodily and sentient aspects of human existence. Takemura’s works were gradually recognised and were shortlisted for the prestigious sculpture prizes and glass art prizes around Australia. He was also invited to worldwide exhibitions at SOFA Chicago in USA, Art16 and Affordable Art Fair in Hong Kong. Takemura was granted from Japan Foundation New York in 2014 to attended the GAS conferences in Chicago, USA.

 

” Isolating myself in the Australian bush elicits a spring of self-understanding. Experiencing detachment from civilization leads me back to a renewed awareness of connections and a sense of belonging within society. Seeing beyond Silence is inspired by the radical development of information technology, which at once offers both a closer proximity to the world and connections to individuals on social networks. Accumulated personal data gives rise to the sensation of a virtual image of myself; self which interfaces with greater number and variety of people without physical connection occurring. The vessel is evocative of an abstracted human figure. The object offers a complex surface created through grinding and polishing, yielding an ethereal shell perforated by organic-shaped voids and interlaced with a continuous optical fibre. Seeking dialogue with my work I am compelled to query what connection means to me and how I belong to the elaborate networks of our society.”

 
About the Fuse Prize
The exhibition of finalist's works will be shown at JamFactory from 18 May to 20 September 2020 with a comprehensive digital showcase of the work, profiles of the artists and the aim to reopen to the public part way through this period. The exhibition is then scheduled to tour to the Australian Design Centre from 9 October to 18 November 2020. 
 
The winners of the Established and Emerging Categories will be announced in September 2020. The 2020 FUSE Glass Prize judges are Justine Olsen, Curator of Decorative Art and Design at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington; Eva Czernis-Ryl, Curator at Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney; Robert Cook, Curator of 20th Century Art at Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth; Jessica Loughlin, 2018 FUSE Glass Prize Winner and Brian Parkes, Chief Executive Officer at JamFactory, Adelaide. Parkes says of the judging process that, 'the judges were thrilled to see so many leading artists from across Australia and New Zealand enter this year.
 
With the current travel restrictions in place, a robust and lengthy video conference was required to make the very tough decisions to arrive at just twelve established and six emerging finalists.' Established in 2016, the biennial FUSE Glass Prize is supported in 2020 by founding donors for the prize, Jim and Helen Carreker along with Susan Armitage, the Hon Diana Laidlaw AM, Sonia Laidlaw, David McKee AM, Pam McKee, Trina Ross, and additional anonymous donors. The David & Dulcie Henshall Foundation have also generously supported the Emerging Artist Category of FUSE through the David Henshall Emerging Artist Prize. The FUSE Glass Prize is also supported through cash and in-kind sponsorships from the South Australian Tourism Commission, The Louise luxury accommodation in the Barossa, the Mayfair Hotel, Pitcher Partners, Seppeltsfield Wines and Canvas Group. Together these donors and sponsors have contributed all funds for the prizes, marketing and program costs, enabling JamFactory to continue to present Australasia's richest prize for glass, and one of the world's premier recognitions for artists working in this dynamic and seductive medium.
 
 
Yusuke Takemura
Seeing beyond Silence, 2019
Glass, optical fibre, stainless wire and sphere, gold leaves
126 x 30 x 30 cm
May 18, 2020
143 
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