Congratulations to Kai Wasikowski on being selected as a finalist for the 2018 NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship.

The Fellowship is offered by the NSW Government through Create NSW to enable a visual artist at the beginning of their career to undertake a self-directed program of professional development.

With a 100-year history, the Fellowship is a key exhibition for profiling the dynamism and breadth of emerging contemporary artistic practice in NSW. Now in its 22nd year at Artspace, it continues to define new generations of contemporary art practice for both artists and audiences.

Minister Harwin said the Government has been proud to support visual artists for over a century and praised Artspace for its experimentation, collaboration and advocacy in developing artists of the future.

‘Support for our emerging NSW artists is vital if we’re to succeed in building a thriving, diverse and world-class arts sector. Working with the experts at Artspace we’re able to shine a spotlight on some of the most exciting new talent and deliver their work to new audiences.’ Mr Harwin said.

Curators Alexie Glass-Kantor, Michelle Newton and Lola Pinder will work closely with each of the artists through the development of the exhibition.

Kai is a Sydney-based artist who’s work considers what it means to be ecologically aware. Utilising photography, readymade materials and multimedia, Wasikowski draws together aesthetic signifiers of technology and nature to explore the increasing intimacy of these binary terms and the emotional environments their meshing creates.

Kai’s work will be exhibited alongside Kieran Butler, EO Gill, Biljana Jancic, Shivanjani Lal, JD Reforma, Marikit Santiago, Georgia Saxelby, Shireen Taweel and Jodie Whalen. The recipient of the Fellowship will be announced at the opening night of the exhibition, on Thursday 15 November, 2018.