![Aukje Van Vark Aukje Van Vark](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptors/10758/portrait_studio_colour._blue_text_bottom_left__medium.jpeg)
![At the farm At the farm](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/18673/114_vanvark,_aukje-_at_the_farm__medium.jpeg)
![Broken Broken](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/18672/113-broken-aukje-van-vark-3__medium.jpg)
![When things Change… When things Change…](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/16830/070-02__medium.jpg)
![Fair Play Fair Play](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/16829/069-03__medium.jpg)
![Clydie chillin’ Clydie chillin’](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/15897/100-02van_vark,_aukje_-_clytdie_chillin_-_18x9x13_copy__medium.jpg)
![I love the water I love the water](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/15014/048-03__medium.jpg)
![Clydie Chillin Clydie Chillin](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/14410/129-01van_vark,_aukje_-_clyde_chilling_-_18x9x13_copy__medium.jpg)
![Sir Mandrill Sir Mandrill](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/14360/072-01van_vark,_aukje_-_sir_mandrill_-_50x50x160_copy__medium.jpg)
![Leafy Seadragon on driftwood Leafy Seadragon on driftwood](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/13569/115-2__medium.jpg)
![Leafy Seadragon Leafy Seadragon](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/12912/37-05__medium.jpg)
![Attila Attila](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/12301/104w-img_2797__medium.jpg)
![Lost Lost](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/12300/116-2__medium.jpg)
![Happy Dance Happy Dance](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/11923/048-04__medium.jpg)
![Great day Great day](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/11922/049-02__medium.jpg)
![Eligius Eligius](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/11378/39-3-2__medium.jpg)
![Skyline Skyline](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/11270/35-3__medium.jpg)
![Seal Seal](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/11145/072-03__medium.jpg)
![Shy Guy Shy Guy](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/11144/071-02__medium.jpg)
![Underdog Underdog](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/uploads/sculptures/11143/070-02__medium.jpg)
Aukje Van Vark
- Works online: 20 Total prizes: 3
- Preferred media: cement fondu, bronze, Stoneware handbuild ceramics,
- Sculpture styles: figurative, portraits (animal),
- Sculpture scales: small (0 - 100cm), medium (100 - 200cm),
- Sculpture settings: indoor, outdoor,
- Works to Comission: Yes
- Runs Classes: Yes
I love to make quirky animals with a twist, with a side serve of humor- for people who like something different.
My animals come to life in my studio in the Dandenong ranges, a little down the hill from our house, in the middle of the bush.
I love spending time in my studio, and discovering what the material will bring me that day. Sometimes that is exactly what I planned, and sometimes it is a total surprise. I love how the process brings me revelations that I can build on later.
My need to make, leads to and comes from the animal world. Animals give me freedom to show what I see and what is important.
When creating Art, my mission is not to depict life, but to reflect on life, and how I experience it- I feel a need to show people how I see things and how they move me- to achieve this I need to exaggerate what I see to translate the feeling, which is how my animals are bringing joy, despair, wonder, - emotion- into my sculptures.
They portray movement, as posture and flow is essential to convey what I need to say.
AWARDS / RECOGNITION
'17 Pakenham show, - recommended
'19 Yakkerboo Art show - Best local Artist
'20 Twin rivers online; Best sculpture in show
'21 Blairgowrie ; Best sculpture
'21 Kilmore art expo ; Best sculpture
'21 Kinglake Art show ; Best sculpture second prize.
'21 Finalist Bluethumb art prize
'22 Herring Island Summer Arts Festival- Zoom Out : peoples choice award.
'22 Pakenham Art show ; Bronze prize
'22 ASV Annual ; Meridian Bronze prize.
'22 Featured artists in the Victorian Artists Society
'23 Best carved sculpture Kilmore art expo
![Annual & Awards Exhibition](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/icon_view_big.png)
![Herring Island Summer Exhibition](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/icon_view_big.png)
![McClelland Gallery](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/icon_view_big.png)
![Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/icon_view_big.png)
![Victoria Sculpture Prize](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/icon_view_big.png)
![Annual & Awards Exhibition](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/icon_view_big.png)
![Herring Island Summer Exhibition](https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/images/icon_view_big.png)