Biography
1992, painted stainless steel
Born in 1926, Errol spent a lifetime making models and sculptures. At the age of 15 during World War II, he and others including artist Lloyd Rees made models of every enemy aircraft in the world for the Volunteer Air Observers Corps. These were used in Sydney for spotting aircraft, should they invade. Errol’s warplane models were later donated to the National War Memorial.
From 1957, Errol pioneered the field of scale model-making for architects, industrial designers and engineers. Over the next two decades or so, Errol built models of most of Sydney’s large buildings, bridges and motorways, including the Sydney Opera House and the entire Sydney CBD. Errol’s model of Ancient Rome, which was made in 1976 for the Classics Department of the Australian National University, took six months to research and construct.
In 1992, Errol founded and became Curator of Macquarie University Sculpture Park, and in 1993 became Sculptor-in-Residence. The park is one of the largest of its type in the world, containing over 100 sculptures, including many of Errol’s.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s Errol concentrated mainly on bronze and stainless steel sculptures. One of his largest, Kakadu Flight, won the 1989 Ueno Royal Museum Award in the 6th Henry Moore Grand Prize Exhibition in Hakone, Japan.
In 2002 Errol was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the arts, particularly through the establishment of the Sculpture Park at Macquarie University.
Errol died in Sydney in 2009.
1926 Born in Sydney, Australia.
1947 Graduated Bachelor of Engineering, University of Sydney.
1950-1955 Lived in London. Studied sculpture at Regent Street Polytechnic, London (1953)
1953 First exhibited sculpture (“Quartette”) at the Artists from the Commonwealth exhibition, London.
1957-1980s Pioneered the field of scale model-making for architects, industrial designers and engineers. Trained and employed personnel in this field. Built models of most of Sydney’s large buildings, bridges and motorways, including a model of the Sydney CBD; Macquarie University’s buildings and campus; and the Sydney Opera House. Also models of Canberra’s major buildings for the National Capital Development Corporation, including the National Library of Australia in 1962. Model of Ancient Rome completed for the ANU in 1976.
Studied Design, East Sydney Technical College.
Teacher, Industrial Design, Randwick Technical College.
1965-1973 Student, committeeman, organiser, tutor, for World Education Fellowship Creative Arts Summer School, Sydney.
Student in sculpture, jewellery-making and drawing at Workshop Arts Centre, Willoughby, NSW.
1973 Joined Ateliers Art Protis, Brno, Czechoslovakia, making Art Protis Tapestry Pictures in wool. Exhibited in galleries in Sydney, Stockholm, Manila and in various places in Czechoslovakia.
1983-1985 Foundation President, Guild of Professional Modelmakers. Made Honorary Life Member in 1989.
1986-1988 Teacher, Sculpture, Seaforth College of TAFE, NSW.
1992 Founder and Curator, Macquarie University Sculpture Park, Sydney.
1993 Sculptor-In-Residence, Macquarie University, Sydney.
1994 Attended 15th International Sculpture Conference, San Francisco.
2001 Awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Sculptors Society “in recognition of achievements in sculpture and for the invaluable service to sculptors and the community with the creation of the Macquarie University Sculpture Park.”
2002 Assisted Edith Cowan University to launch its Sculpture Park, Western Australia’s first designated University Sculpture Park, at its Joondalup Campus.
2009 Died in Sydney, Australia.
Solo Exhibitions of Sculpture
1982 Sculpture Centre, Sydney, abstract sculpture.
1984 Greenhill Gallery during Adelaide Arts Festival, SA, abstract bronze sculpture.
1984 Parker’s Garden Centre, Turramurra, Sydney (September), works featured in a garden setting.
1987 Holdsworth Galleries, Woollahra, Sydney, abstract bronze sculptures.
1989 Holdsworth Galleries, Woollahra, Sydney, stainless steel high-tech sculptures.
1990 Cooks Hill Galleries, Newcastle.
1995 Holdsworth Galleries, Sydney, bronze & stainless steel sculptures.
2002 Macquarie University Art Gallery, Sydney, Retrospective.
Group Exhibitions of Sculpture
1953 Artists from the Commonwealth exhibition, London.
1983 Irving Sculpture Gallery, Glebe, Sydney.
1983 Sculptors of the North Shore, Chatswood Centre Art Space, Sydney (November).
1984 Sculptors Society Exhibition, St Georges Terrace Gallery, Parramatta (March).
1984 Collage Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.
1984 Sculptors Society Exhibition, Woollahra Galleries, Sydney.
1984 Springton Gallery, South Australia.
1984 Mary Burchell Gallery, North Sydney.
1985 Gallery One, Stanmore, Sydney.
1985 Hunters Hill Art Prize Exhibition, Sydney. Highly Commended award for “Southern Cross” bronze sculpture.
1986-1987 Sculptors Society Exhibition, Holdsworth Contemporary Galleries, Woollahra, Sydney.
1989 6th Henry Moore Grand Prize International Competition, Utsukushi-ga-hara, Hakone, Japan. Ueno Royal Museum Award for 4-metre stainless steel sculpture “Kakadu Flight”.
1990 Sculptors Society Exhibition, Seymour Centre, Sydney.
1992 10th Biennale Dantesca International Competition, Ravenna, Italy. Gold Medal award.
1992 Founded the Macquarie University Sculpture Park.
1993 Dante in Australia Exhibition, Ravenna, Italy.
1994 Dante in Australia Exhibition, Parliament House, Canberra.
1994 Walkom Manning Art Prize Exhibition, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW. Second prize: “Red Feathered Friend” steel sculpture
1994 11th Biennale Dantesca International Competition, Ravenna, Italy.
1995 Sculptors Society Exhibition, Beaver Galleries, Canberra.
1995 Dante in Australia Exhibition, Parliament House, Sydney, January 1995.
1995 Dante in Australia Exhibition, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne, August-October 1995.
1995 Sydney Jewish Arts Festival Exhibition, Holdsworth Galleries, Woollahra, Sydney, November-December 1995.
1996 Walkom Manning Art Prize Exhibition, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW. First prize: “Shelldiver” bronze sculpture
1998- Sculptors Society Exhibitions, Darling Park, Sydney.
1999 Toyamura International Sculpture Biennale, Hokkaido, Japan: “Solar Net”
2000 FIDEM XXVII International Art Medal Federation Congress, Weimar, Germany: “Sunning in the South I“ and “Sunning in the South II“
2002 FIDEM XXVIII International Art Medal Federation Congress, Paris, France: “Memorial for a Lost Pearldiver“
2007 Great Synagogue Art Exhibition, Sydney.
2009 Contemporary Medallic Art from Australia Exhibition, New York, USA.
Solo Exhibitions of Art Protis Wool Pictures
1973 Sebert Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.
1974 Australian Trade Fair, Intercontinental Hotel, Manila, Philippines (February-March).
1975 Opening of Scone Civic Art Gallery, NSW.
1976 Canberra, ACT.
1976 Boggabri Annual Art Show, NSW.
1978 ANZ Exhibition Centre, Martin Place, Sydney.
1978 Freudenstadt, Western Germany, in Town Hall.
1978 London, New South Wales House, with help from Qantas and Dep’t of Trade grant.
1979 Brisbane, Wool Exhibition Centre Gallery.
Awards
1989 Ueno Royal Museum Award, 6th Henry Moore Grand Prize Exhibition, Hakone, Japan, for 4-metre stainless steel sculpture “Kakadu Flight”.
1992 Gold Medal Winner, 10th Biennale Dantesca, Ravenna, Italy.
1994 Highly Commended Award, Hunters Hill Art Prize, Sydney.
1994 Second Prize, Walkom Manning Art Prize, Taree, NSW, for “Red Feathered Friend” steel sculpture.
1996 First Prize, Walkom Manning Art Prize, Taree, NSW, for “Shelldiver” bronze sculpture.
2002 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the arts, particularly through the establishment of the Sculpture Park at Macquarie University.
2004 Honorary Doctorate, Macquarie University, Sydney.
Television Appearances
1980s “Good Morning Sydney”, Channel 10
1981 “Weekend Magazine”, Channel 2
1984 “Simon Townsend’s Wonder World”, Channel 10
1993 “Review”, Channel 2 (12th July 1993)
Commissions
1970s Art Protis Wool Tapestry, ANZ Banking Group head office, Sydney
1970s Art Protis Wool Tapestry, Local Government Superannuation Board boardroom, Sydney
1970s Art Protis Wool Tapestry, Trinity College, Melbourne
1989 Stainless Steel Sculpture “Kakadu Flight”, Open-Air Sculpture Museum, Utsukushi-ga-hara, Japan
1990 Stainless Steel Sculpture “Kakadu Wings”, foyer, 321 Kent Street, Sydney
c.1993 Hand-beaten copper installation for water feature, Big Bear Shopping Centre foyer, Neutral Bay, Sydney
2005 Stainless Steel Sculpture “Season’s End”, Macquarie University Sculpture Park, Sydney
Collections
- Macquarie University Sculpture Park, Sydney, Australia (approx. 18 works)
- 321 Kent Street, Sydney, Australia, “Kakadu Wings” stainless steel, 1990
- Open-Air Museum, Utsukushi-ga-hara, Japan, “Kakadu Flight” stainless steel, 1989
- Dante Museum, Ravenna, Italy.
- Errol Davis’ works, pictures and sculpture are represented in private and public collections in Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, London, the Philippines, Sweden, USA, Italy and in all Australian Capital Cities.
References
- Max Germaine: Artists and Galleries of Australia and New Zealand.
- Utsukushi-ga-hara Catalogue, 1989.
- Artfile, 1992, pp 98-99 and 339.
- Oz Arts, 1994, 11, p 111.
- Dante in Australia: Australian artists interpret Dante Alighieri, curated by Eileen Slarke, 1995.
- Craft-Arts, Issue 9, June/August 1987.
- Craft-Arts, Issue 11, February/April 1988, p 89.
- Art and Australia quarterly journal, 1998, ‘Landscape and the Human Spirit’ pp 505-507.
- Sydney Morning Herald obituary, 2010, ‘Sculptor put his Heart and Soul into Creating’ by Di Yerbury.,