Interview with sculptor Hossein Valamanesh: 2018 Helen Lempriere Scholarship recipient

Hossein Valamanesh is the senior sculptor recipient of the 2018 Helen Lempriere Scholarship. He presented his works “Conversations” created for the 2018 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, Bondi. Hossein Valamanesh works across drawing, painting, sculpture and installation, as well as large-scale public projects and video.1 Born in Iran in 1949, he studied fine art in Tehran from 1967 to 1970 and immigrated to Australia in 1973. His art is characterised by its engagement with the natural world and its unique fusion of his Persian heritage with contemporary Australian life. Employing leaves, stones and earth along side ordinary domestic objects – a rug, an oil lamp, slippers – it reflects themes of home, distance, longing and love, as well as the complexities of identity and place. Hossein Valamanesh is the senior sculptor recipient of the 2018 Helen Lempriere Scholarship. He presented his works “Conversations” created for the 2018 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, Bondi.

Hossein Valamanesh, Conversations 2018 Source: Supplied

Hossein Valamanesh is the senior sculptor recipient of the 2018 Helen Lempriere Scholarship. He presented his works “Conversations” created for the 2018 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, Bondi.

Hossein Valamanesh works across drawing, painting, sculpture and installation, as well as large-scale public projects and video.1 Born in Iran in 1949, he studied fine art in Tehran from 1967 to 1970 and immigrated to Australia in 1973. His art is characterised by its engagement with the natural world and its unique fusion of his Persian heritage with contemporary Australian life. Employing leaves, stones and earth along side ordinary domestic objects – a rug, an oil lamp, slippers – it reflects themes of home, distance, longing and love, as well as the complexities of identity and place.

Angela & Hossein Valamanesh, Guardian 2018 Bronze & Granite, 230 X 160 X 110 cm, Australia House Japan Source: Supplied

As one of Australia’s most prestigious annual prizes for sculptors in Australia, the Helen Lempriere Scholarships foster and promote contemporary Australian sculpture. The Helen Lempriere Scholarships are designed to advance individual artists’ careers by enabling them to travel, study and undertake opportunities to further their artistic development. The scholarships are awarded to emerging, mid career and senior Australian sculptors chosen by the exhibition’s Curatorial Panel.

The 2018 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition took place from Thursday, 18 October until Sunday, 4 November 2018.

Hossein Valamanesh, Found in Translation 2018, post card Source: Supplied

The Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in Sydney and Perth is Australia's largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition. This exhibition was initiated in 1997, at Bondi Beach and it featured sculptures by both Australian and overseas artists. This exhibition is held annually during spring in Australia, from late October to early November for three weeks, on the Coastal Walk between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach. Over 100 local, interstate and international artists participate every year. Sculpture by the Sea is incredibly popular and draws considerable crowds