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A record 291 artworks and films were submitted for inclusion in Rookwood General Cemetery’s outdoor art exhibition, HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures.HIDDEN returns bigger than ever with honorariums for all artists and 12 award categories representing over $40,000 in value.

The iconic sculpture walk, which began in 2009, is a unique opportunity for the community to engage with Rookwood’s rich and diverse cultural landscape through the beauty of art. Today HIDDEN includes Sculpture, Film and Student categories, providing the opportunity for a wide range of artists to be involved.

60 artworks will be on display within the cemetery’s grounds in September, including sculptures, short films and community submissions. All proposals have responded to the cemetery and engage with HIDDEN’s themes of history, culture, remembrance, diversity, love, mourning, spirituality, cycles of life and the passage of time. In 2021, Rookwood will present a broad span of works ranging from celebratory pieces that are big, bright and colourful, engaging interactive installations, through to contemplative, intimate and thought-provoking works.

HIDDEN’s curator, Kath Fries, commented that the selection process was driven by a connection between the artwork, audience, and space. “Each artwork engages with unique stories and experiences of the cemetery. The atmosphere of the cemetery is naturally contemplative, so visitors can approach the artworks with a quiet sensitivity unique to the space.”

“2020 was a very difficult year for our arts communities,” said Fries, “I’m excited to be curating this expansive exhibition again and cannot wait to see visitors engage with the creative arts in this setting – it’s a unique place that is so integral to Australian history.”

“The calibre of work, and the doubling of the number of proposals submitted, speaks to the significance of HIDDEN within the arts community of Sydney,” commented Lee Shearer, Interim CEO, Rookwood General Cemetery. “The event also attracts valuable support from local businesses and industry, enabling the exhibition to go from strength to strength. Rookwood Cemetery is an ideal setting for artists to present works with layered narratives while honouring the site’s diverse cultural history.”

This year’s HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures panel consisted of Elyse Goldfinch, Assistant Curator at Artspace Sydney, and Tim Silver, a well-known Sydney-based artist. Wendy Ramsay, Director of Professional Learning, Visual Arts and Design Educators Association (VADEA NSW) judged the student category, and independent curator/artist Talia Smith, judged the short film category. View the HIDDEN 2021 finalists at www.hiddeninrookwood.com.au