Multi-disciplinary designer, Simone LeAmon, has been announced as the winner of 2009 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award at the National Gallery Victoria (NGV).

LeAmon won the award for her ‘Lepidoptera’ chair. Accepting the award last night (11 March) LeAmon said: “I am thrilled to accept this award and to be a part of this exhibition which draws attention to the work of outstanding Victorian designers.

“I can think of less than a handful of cities in the world where an exhibition of this standard could take place.”

The award, focussing on contemporary design in Victoria, explored fourteen different seat furniture designs.

“[The 2009 award] reflects the NGV’s continuing support for, and commitment to, contemporary design. We warmly congratulate Simone on this outstanding achievement,” said Dr Gerard Vaughan – Director, NGV.

This year’s award was judged by Dr Kees Dorst – Professor of Design at the faculty of Design, Architecture and Building of UTS and senior researcher of Industrial Design and Eindhoven University in The Netherlands.

“Simone’s chair combines sustainability with new and intriguing aesthetics making it a courageous and exciting design,” Professor Dorst said.
 
“The idea of using textile scraps from the automotive industry in a chair gives the work style and attitude. This design has a great future on an international podium.”

LeAmon recives a prize of $30, 000. The 2009 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award is on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square from today (12 March) until Sunday 30 August, and entry is free.

ngv.vic.gov.au

Image:

Simone LeAmon
born Australia 1971
Lepidoptera, chair 2008
stainless steel, polyurethane, polyester
110.0 x 85.0 x 70.0 cm
Collection of the artist, Melbourne
© Simone LeAmon