Draft:Mike Hewson
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Last edited by Washcarso0708 (talk | contribs) 6 hours ago. (Update) |
Mike Hewson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 (age 40–41) Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Education | Columbia University University of Canterbury |
| Notable work |
|
| Style | public art |
| Movement | contemporary art |
| Awards | |
| Website | mikehewson.co.nz |
Mike Hewson (born 1985) is a New Zealand visual artist and civil engineer known for his public art installations and playground designs. He has completed commissioned projects across Australia and New Zealand, earning him various awards in art and design. His work has been remarked as having a positive attitude towards risk.
Personal life and education
[edit]Hewson was born in 1985 in Dunedin, New Zealand.[1]
Hewson has experience in structural engineering and heavy-civil construction.[2] He received a bachelor of engineering from the University of Canterbury in 2007, and later, a master of fine arts from Columbia University in 2016.[‡ 1]
Hewson was living in Christchurch at the time of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and witnessed the partial collapse of the Christ Church Cathedral. He was able to take photos of the dust cloud as it engulfed Cathedral Square.[3] During the earthquake he also lost his studio and much of his work, which inspired an interest in structures and the idea of impermanence. Following the disaster, Hewson began one of his first ambitious art projects; wrapping destroyed buildings in large photographic prints.[1]
Career
[edit]On August 5, 2022,[4] Hewson gave a TED talk for TEDxSydney titled Playing with risk: The dangers of thinking safe. Hewson discussed his philosophy on risk-taking, arguing that risk and exploratory behaviour should be encouraged in a public setting. He explains how he incorporates this idea in his playground designs.[5]
In 2024, Hewson joined the Newington College Artists Residency Program. He worked closely with visual arts students of the college and featured artworks at the Turning Lessons: With Heads and Hands exhibition, hosted by Concordia Art Gallery. The opening night of the exhibition took place on March 21, 2024.[‡ 2]
Notable work
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Illawarra Placed Landscape (2018)
[edit]Illawarra Placed Landscape is a permanent public installation outside Crown Street Mall, Wollongong. It incorporates living palm trees and 200 tonnes of rock, including a 17-metre tall 'palm pole'. Hewson was selected from four international artists who were invited to submit proposals. The A$500,000 project was commissioned by the Wollongong City Council and was constructed in 2018.[6]
Rocks on Wheels (2022)
[edit]Rocks on Wheels is a public artwork and playspace located at Southbank Boulevard in Southbank, Melbourne. The playground was inspired by the photograph with the same name by American photographer Diane Arbus.[7][8] The installation features several large Victorian bluestone boulders, together weighing over 300 tons.[‡ 4] The project was commissioned by the City of Melbourne and cost A$2.5 million.[8]
The playground has been considered to challenge conventions of playground design, allowing visitors to embrace risk-taking.[9] It has attracted criticism and skepticism over its safety, particularly from parents. However, Hewson told ABC Radio Melbourne,
[The council] wanted to endorse children's ability to navigate the world... And in order to do that, they needed to be provided with infrastructure which encourages risk in a controlled environment.[8]
The project earned Hewson the AILA Award of Excellence in the category of civic landscape.[10]
The Key's Under the Mat (2025)
[edit]The Key's Under the Mat is a sculptural exhibition hosted at the Nelson Packer Tank; an underground exhibition space at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, between October 2025 and August 2026. It was constructed from thousands of salvaged objects and construction materials,[‡ 5] including leftover marble panels from the construction of the Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House. The space acts largely as a playground, but also features a functioning barbecue, steam room, sauna and sound recording studio.[11]
Awards
[edit]| Year | Project | Award | Position | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rocks on Wheels (2022) | AILA National Award of Excellence (Category: Civic Landscape) | Winner | [10] |
| 2020 | St Peters Fences (2020) | PLA Playspace of the Year (<$500,000) | Winner | |
| 2018 | Illawarra Placed Landscape (2018) | PLA Playspace of the Year (<$500,000) | Winner | |
| 2014 | N/A | NAB Emerging Artist | Finalist | [12] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Seidler, Jonathan (March 4, 2024). "The Sublime Structures Of Mike Hewson". Esquire Australia. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ↑ "Mike Hewson". TEDxSydney. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ↑ Lynch, Keith (November 25, 2011). "Cathedral's collapse immortalised". Stuff.
- ↑ "TEDxSydney | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ↑ "Playing with risk: The dangers of thinking safe | Mike Hewson". TEDxSydney. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ↑ Wong, Emily (24 April 2018). "New public artwork brings local landscape into Wollongong mall". Landscape Australia. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ↑ "Southbank Boulevard Play Space". whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au. What's On Melbourne. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- 1 2 3 Chwasta, Madi (November 9, 2022). "Meet Mike Hewson, the artist behind Melbourne's 'risky' playground". ABC News (Australia).
- ↑ Brennan, Bede (19 March 2023). "Discovery and daring: Rocks on Wheels". Landscape Australia. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- 1 2 "Media Release - Australia's top landscapes revealed at national awards". www.aila.org.au. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ↑ Wang, Michelle (October 4, 2025). "Beneath the Art Gallery of NSW, artist Mike Hewson has created a summer wonderland – BYO sausages and swimmers". The Guardian.
- ↑ "JULIAN DAY FINALIST IN NAB PRIVATE WEALTH EMERGING ARTIST AWARD | Home@735". homeat735.com.au. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
Primary sources
[edit]- ↑ "ARTIST BIO | Mike Hewson". mikehewson.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ↑ "Mike Hewson joins Turning Lessons: With Head and Hands – Newington College". Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ↑ "Palm Hoop #2 2024". mikehewson.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ↑ "Rocks On Wheels, Southbank, Melbourne". mikehewson.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ↑ "Mike Hewson The Key's Under the Mat". Art Gallery NSW. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
Category:21st-century New Zealand male artists Category:New Zealand installation artists