The objects that I use to make sculpture often have a history of human use, or a particular function. I endeavour to subvert the usual reading of an object and use it to form a metaphorical language, and to question our relationship to objects.
The works I make often talk about the peculiarities of human experience. There is an undertone in this particular work of women's social justice issues. The life of a cricket ball must be hard, being so often whacked with a bat. Yet, it also receives much caressing, rubbing, and kissing for good luck.
Terminology is interesting. In cricket, there are particular names for the ball and for the way it bounces along the cricket pitch. The cricket terms that relate to these five balls are Cherry, Beamer, Mullygrubber, Half-Volley, and Bouncer. Cherry is an Australian term for the cricket ball, as well as for the red mark made by the ball upon the bat that it strikes. It is also a girl's name, a sweet fruit, and a slang nickname for the nipple on a breast.
Courtesy of Defiance Gallery
Anita Larkin is artist who makes sculpture from found objects and felted fibres, as well as sometimes casting in bronze. Anita has experience in working on public art commissions, as well as making works for private clients.
A professional artist since graduating from Sydney College of the Arts in 1993, she regularly exhibits her work in Australia and internationally, and is represented by Defiance Gallery in Sydney. She also teach workshops in feltmaking and making sculpture from found objects.
moulded leather, linen thread, bronze, synthetic turf, felted wool
9 x 9 x 60 cm
Finalist
Anita Larkin, in conversation with Professor Ian Howard, discusses her work Cricket Balls and answers questions from the audience. Recorded on 10 October 2015 at the exhibition.
Download MP3 (7 MB)
Judges of the 2015 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize: Dr Michael Brand (Director of the Art Gallery of NSW), Penelope Seidler AM (Arts Patron and Director of Harry Seidler & Associates) and Barbara Flynn (International Curatorial Advisor).