We are proud to present the three finalists for the BADA Art Prize 2024, as selected by our distinguished panel of judges.
The prize seeks to promote “the antiques of tomorrow” by awarding a grant to an emerging contemporary artist whose work exemplifies the enduring ingenuity and quality illustrated by our members objects.
Comfort, 2024
Media: Hand-carved stone. Type of stone: Reclaimed Portland limestone, which was once part of King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill in London.
Size: 69 H x 30 W x 30 D cm.
Sandra Camargo
"A theme of my work is to find the story contained in each stone. The history of this stone was particularly interesting. The medium is Portland limestone, from a quarry in the Isle of Portland in Dorset. Geologists reckon Portland limestone to be more than 140 million years old.
"This particular sample was excavated in or before 1909 for the building of King’s College Hospital. The number A28 on the stone is an original mason’s mark. While standing duty in the hospital, it silently witnessed many of life‘s major events which occurred on a daily basis within the building’s grand stone walls.
"During a relatively recent refurbishment, the stone was discarded. It was rescued in time before being taken for disposal with demolition materials; for 20 years it was kept on an artist’s patio in London, until, in 2023, it was given to me.
"I hand-carved it for 4 months and its final mission has been to become a sculpture – a tribute to life and a celebration of those whose lives started or ended at the hospital, as well as those who made the hospital their life‘s work. The form was inspired by the folds of a discarded hospital blanket, as though in a laundry basket. The sculpture is named Comfort, because a blanket is the most basic of human comforts, present through the ages at birth, through life, and at the end.
"Already, as a stone, Comfort it is more ancient than the mind can imagine. It has had quite a journey – so far. In its latest form, as a sculpture, Comfort would be honoured to become an ‘antique of tomorrow’. Who knows what the future will bring?”
- Sandra Camargo
Silk, 2024
Limewood, sycamore branch
Dimensions: 47 x 43 x 6 cm
By Takako Jin
“My submission for the BADA Art Prize is a woodcarving of silk fabric draped from a sycamore twig. Here, a classical approach to carved drapery is playfully contrasted with an untouched twig, the wood in its natural state. In classical carving, drapery serves to accentuate and embellish the underlying form beneath it; Silk instead speaks to the lines and movements of the fabric itself, embodying the delicate nature of silk in the entirely contrasting medium of wood.
"My practice demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the hand made and hand carved, meeting objects in the world with a sincerity and intensity of observation that remains present in the work, in direct contrast to the mechanical reproductions of the digital age.
"As an art prize that seeks to find in contemporary artworks the attributes of enduring ingenuity and quality exemplified by pieces that are now valued as antiques, the BADA Art Prize is an ideal platform for contemplating the artists of the past; who they were as makers, what they valued and what visions and ideals they held for their work. As a contemporary maker trained in the skills and values of a historic craft, these questions have been and remain of great relevance in my practice, and I believe that Silk is a work that is well placed within the discussion of ideas about the antiques of tomorrow."
- Takako Jin
WAVE, 2024
The big chair 90x70x80 cm, small chair 50x45x45 cm
Together 140x70x80 cm
By Yu-Ching Chen
https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/546631/cover
“My work is rooted in timeless design principles, blending contemporary aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship. By drawing inspiration from nature‘s organic forms and the fluidity of everyday surroundings, I create pieces that resonate with emotional depth and enduring relevance. I believe these qualities give my work the potential to become the ‘antiques of tomorrow’.
"Crafted with precision and attention to detail, this collection is not just functional but also reflective of a time and place. As trends come and go, the thoughtful integration of form, material, and meaning in my work will allow it to stand the test of time, cherished by future generations as artifacts of enduring value.”
- Yu-Ching Chen