Atlantic - William Robinson
Ideas | CBC | Posted: November 7, 2016 8:17 PM | Last Updated: November 7, 2016
The Sobey Art Award is Canada's pre-eminent award for contemporary Canadian art. The annual prize is given to an artist under age 40, who has exhibited in a public or commercial art gallery within 18 months of being nominated.
William Robinson lives and works in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His practice includes a variety of media, such as site-specific installations, performance, video, musical composition, sculpture and printed matter. Robinson explores how sound and music can extricate social and historical narratives resting dormant within particular sites and built environments. Currently, he is investigating the material, cultural and sonic transmutation of certain metal objects and their related manufacturing processes. The recipient of a 2016 Canada Council for the Arts Audio Research Grant, he is presenting a solo exhibition, Brutalist Songs, at Galerie Sans Nom in May 2016.
2016 Sobey Art Award Juror Pan Wendt on William Robinson
"There were many deserving candidates and the selection process was incredibly difficult – in fact, the conversation was still going on during the bus ride back to Halifax. But I think we achieved our goal, which was to choose artists with immense promise at a pivotal point in their careers, and who each reflected the rich variety of approaches to art making in Canada. This is what the Sobey Art Award is for, to provide timely support and recognition for Canadian artists. Choosing the Atlantic finalist was particularly difficult. I was pleased, though, that William Robinson's impressive work was recognized by all of the jurors. His multimedia installations and sonic narratives are often ephemeral and shown at festivals. As a result, Robinson hasn't yet achieved the national recognition he deserves. This will change now, as a wider audience will become aware of his compelling and complex work."