Germinate | 2023

Nicholas Uhlmann

I am an established South Australian sculptor who has developed a unique signature language over twenty two years of studio practice. I have exhibited widely throughout Australia and abroad, including the production of major public sculpture installations.  Overall, my work can be read as a poetic portrayal of our shared human experience and the quest to chart a meaningful journey through life. ‘Voyage into being’ extends upon the ‘Voyager’ series of works that I have developed over the past decade which aim to symbolically portray a mind/body relationship and the overarching journey of consciousness throughout one's life. 'The Eagle and the Serpent II' extends upon the ‘Voyager’ series of works that I have developed over the past decade which aim to symbolically portray a mind/body relationship and an overarching journey of consciousness throughout one's lifetime.

I was born in Sydney, in 1974. Following a period of living in Papua New Guinea as a toddler, our family relocated to the Adelaide Hills region where I have spent the majority of my time since. After completing secondary education in 1991, I spent many years travelling the globe, culminating in a series of formative meditation retreats in Nepal. The teachings on emptiness, in particular, had a profound impact and provided meaningful creative fuel throughout art school and beyond. Upon graduating with a BA in Visual Art in 2001, my focus has been on creating and developing a sculpture practice that aims to celebrate the beauty and interconnection between ourselves and nature. I currently work and reside in Aldgate, Adelaide Hills, which is situated within the traditional lands of the Peramangk and Kaurna peoples.

Awards and Prizes

Recent awards include the Major prize for the 2023 Bungala Sculpture Exhibition and 1st prize for the 2023 Brighton Jetty classic Sculptures. Significant projects within the public realm include ‘Tree Flower Life Cycle’, a sculpture installation consisting of five large-scale outdoor works for the central courtyard of the Royal Adelaide Hospital. A major project-funding grant was awarded through Arts SA for this project. I was also recently awarded the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters Quadrennial Major Public Art Commission for a series of works titled ‘Seed Mix’, located in Old Mill Reserve, Hackney, SA. Numerous exhibitions over a twenty two year period include thirteen solo shows across Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.