Clive Murray-White is represented by the Charles Nodrum Gallery 267 Church Street, Richmond Victoria Australia 3121 www.charlesnodrumgallery.com.au
E-mail gallery@charlesnodrumgallery.com.au Tel 03 94270140 Fax 03 94287350

Clive Murray-White short listed for major Canberra Sculpture Commission

I know there has been plenty of support and interest in the fate of the Canberra sculpture commission.  Clive was a finalist along with Aspect Studios and Arcimix. After 18 months of an arduous selection process that included submissions, concept design, concept development, site inspections and interviews, it was deeply disappointing to have the whole thing cancelled.  With such a big commitment to the project, one might have expected a little more than hearing the news first from the press and then a hurried fax from the ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA.  I could be getting cynical but it felt like a "Yes Minister episode" to receive the News/Fax on Friday the 24th of April at 4:30pm, just prior to a Canberra long weekend for ANZAC day.  Image: Courtesy of Canberra Sunday Times.

About the artist

Clive Murray-White is one of Australia's leading sculptors, he has held over 30 solo exhibitions in major commercial galleries, predominantly in Sydney and Melbourne. His work can be found in many of the nation's leading collections, most notably the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria & New Parliament House, Canberra. He has been invited to exhibit in many major national exhibitions such as the Sydney Biennales and Australian Sculpture Triennials. He has completed numerous commissions and has received many Australia Council Grants.

His most notable commission, pictured above, is the "Alfred Felton Centenary Sculpture" commemorating 100 years of the Felton Bequest 1904-2004.  Commissioned and donated to the National Gallery of Victoria for permanent display at NGV International by the Felton Bequest.

About the sculpture

The sculptures depict humanity as eroded and battered by its passage through time and the hardships of life and show that intelligence, care and generosity of spirit always seem to survive.

A face not only communicates more to human beings than anything else but also provides the greatest potential for range of perceivable expression.

About the marble

Clive Murray-White uses Australian marble to create his sculptures

".....no material can be more appropriate to create our art from....after all....each piece is a perfect slice of time....a perfect record of all the forces that actually formed our land, our marble has been neglected....you can't  go out and buy it....you have to find it where it lies dotted about, often in very remote locations....the places where the stone can be found are often just as inspiring as the stone itself....the true character of the land always finds its way into the sculptures just as I feel that our light is trapped in the stone...."