Meet Award Winning Sculptor Akira Kamada
The Land: Seeking Coexistence
You may know of Jervis Bay artist, Akira Kamada, for his captivating, large scale, ephemeral outdoor sculptures that regularly win major prizes around Australia. Akira’s sculptural installation, The Land: Seeking Coexistence, at Jervis Bay Maritime Museum 04 July – 13 October 2024 is a welcome opportunity to see his work locally, and indoors.
Akira Kamada, 2023. Unceded #1 – #205
The work being presented at Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery follows on from Akira’s highly successful indoor exhibition last year at Art Atrium, Sydney: Earth, Wind, Water and Human Activities.
Akira works mostly with natural, recycled or re-purposed materials and is inspired by the subtle beauty and complexity of the natural world. Whatever form his work takes – site specific, ephemeral outdoor sculptures or smaller scale indoor works – its central, clear concern is the impact of human behaviour on the natural environment, and on our overall social fabric.
Akira Kamada, 2023. Earth, Wind, Water and Human Activities, Art Atrium
Winner Sculpture in the Valley 2023
It was gratifying to see Akira’s contribution to contemporary sculpture in Australia further recognised last year when he was awarded first prize in the Sculpture in the Valley art prize for his outdoor sculpture, Birth.
As you can see from the photo of Birth in situ, it is a large suspended nest of interwoven organic materials, including bamboo, discarded local grapevines, wire, recycled copper wire, and twine. Judges Janet Lawrence and Michael Snape – both internationally recognised artists – described the work as simultaneously physically present but also ephemeral.
Akira Kamada. Birth, 2022. Winner Sculpture in the Valley Art Prize 2023
Where to see Akira’s outdoor sculptures
Sculpture by the Sea 2024 18 October – 04 November
Akira has again been accepted into Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi later this year. If you haven’t experienced Sculpture by the Sea before, put the dates in your diary to see an extraordinary collection of works in a spectacular setting, along cliff top walks from Bondi to Tamara.
Akira is among artists chosen from 22 countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, New Zealand, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine and USA.
Akira first entered Sculpture by the Sea in 2006. In 2008 he received the Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artists Mentor Program Scholarship, and subsequently became a regular finalist in Sculpture by the Sea Bondi and had work included in Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe, WA.
L: Akira Kamada, Refuge, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2018. Photo Gareth Carr
R: Akira Kamada, The Circle Game, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2019. Photo Clyde Yee
Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail Open all year
If you’re travelling further afield in NSW, in the area from Adelong to Tooma, be sure to visit the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail and see Akira’s work, Spirit Run (2024). It is in the Sculpture Forest section of the trail located at Alpine Ash Walk, Bago State Forest.
Akira’s ephemeral installation is one of 12 new artworks that were added in April 2024 to the growing collection of 50+ sculptures placed in villages, forests and wineries in the area.
Akira Kamada. Spirit Run, 2024. Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, Bago State Forest. Photos Left & Middle: Kerry Laws. Right: Grant Hardwick
Community minded
Akira and his partner, artist Kerry Laws, moved from Sydney to Jervis Bay in 2014. I met them both a few years later in 2017 when I took on the voluntary role of organising the SeeChange Jervis Bay Arts Festival. By then Akira and Kerry were well-established as dedicated, generous supporters of the arts in our community through running sculpture workshops on their bush property, especially for primary and high school students, and hosting environmental environmental sculpture shows as part of the festival.
Also on at Jervis Bay Maritime Museum
While you’re at Jervis Bay Maritime Museum to see The Land: Seeking Coexistence check out Sonus Maris a multi-sensory exhibition inviting audiences to see, feel and hear the flows and patterns of coastal environments.
Sonus Maris blends art and science in a celebration of coastal environments. A collaboration between artist Dr. Nigel Helyer and water engineers and scientists at the UNSW Water Research Laboratory.
Sonus Maris is supported by UNSW Water Research Laboratory and UNSW Global Water Institute.
