Heysen Sculpture Biennial Inc.
History
The Heysen Sculpture Biennial is a South Australian contemporary outdoor sculpture exhibition and an ongoing creative conversation on the preservation and sustainability of the natural environment.
The event was an initiative of Adelaide Hills artist Helen Lyons. Lyons was the founder of Trees Please, the environmental group responsible for the continuing rehabilitation of the tracts of bushland within The Cedars, Hahndorf. The Heysen Sculpture Biennial was staged on Peramangk Country at The Cedars in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. In 2022, it was held on Kaurna Country at Carrick Hill.
The Heysen Sculpture Biennial began in 2000 with a dozen works situated in the grounds of The Cedars. From 1912, The Cedars was home to painter, draughtsman and seminal interpreter of the Australian light and landscape, Sir Hans Heysen. Following Heysen's death in 1968, the property was owned by the Heysen Estate until October 2016 when it was formally transferred to the Hans Heysen Foundation. In 2022, the Cedars have begun construction of the new Hans Heysen Museum.
Heysen Sculpture Biennial Inc. is a not for profit incorporated association, led by a committee of professional visual artists, administrators, curators and champions of contemporary arts.
Committee
Allan Campbell (Public Officer)
Allan Campbell is manager of The Cedars, The Estate of the Artist Hans Heysen, and curator of collections of both Hans and Nora Heysen. Allan acted as committee chair until 2012, and is the Public Officer of Heysen Sculpture Biennial Inc.
Tony Hannan (Chair)
Tony is a community development and arts worker with over 35 years experience. He has helped establish multiple NGOs and arts organisations. Working across art forms in community arts projects in SA and other States, he has skills in giant puppet making, parade floats, fire murals, environmental installation and community events. Tony was the founding director Kneehigh Puppeteers ( now Open Space/OSCA). His sculptural work was selected for the 2016 Heysen and Palmer Sculpture Biennials and he was commissioned to design/construct the Curlew House 2017, a sculpture infrastructure project. Tony is the founder and director of the Hahndorf Winter Lantern Festival.
Marijana Tadic
Marijana is a well established South Australian artist and graduate of SA School of Art, majoring in sculpture. Marijana works with architects, engineers and designers to develop a multidisciplinary practice producing public art projects, urban design and studio art works. She has completed a number of significant public works, exhibits regularly through private and public galleries and is a qualified educator teaching at the tertiary level. She was also awarded a builder’s licence, giving her the invaluable experience in the construction industry.
Marijana’s art practice focuses on creating works that explore themes of urban environment, our connection with nature, complexity of life within the global world and the impact of modern technology on our lives. Marijana’s aim is to create art works that make our experience of the world meaningful and harmonious. Marijana exhibited with HSB in 2012 and joined the committee in 2022.
Marie Falcinella
Marie is an experienced Visual Arts organisation leader, project manager, curator and administrator. She was the Chief Executive Officer of Ananguku Arts and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation (Ku Arts), the South Australian peak body for Aboriginal artists and art centres, from 2017-2020. Her experience includes working with commercial fine art galleries in Adelaide and Melbourne and in 2013 she was an Exhibition Invigilator for the Australia Pavilion, Venice Biennale, Italy. Marie has worked closely with Aboriginal owned and governed art centres across Arnhem Land, Top End and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, delivering community led artistic and cultural projects and business development support. Marie joined the HSB Committee in 2022.
Celeste Chamberlain
Celeste is an experienced high-level administrator. She studied Fine Art (Painting) and Art History focusing on pigments and paper, and art and archaeology, at the South Australian School of Art, Sir John Cass School of Art (London)and Camberwell College of Arts (London).
Celeste is closely affiliated with The Cedars, The Estate of the Artist Sir Hans Heysen, and Nora Heysen Foundation.
She brings to the Heysen Sculpture Biennial Inc (HSB) a deep understanding of multi directional artist practice and philosophy, as well as administrative support. Celeste joined the HSB Committee in 2023.