Laura Woodward

Laura Woodward is a Melbourne artist who creates mechanistic, kinetic sculptural installations. Within her work, the machine manifests as both an actual, kinetic element and as a symbolic means to explore the relationship between humankind and technology. She is interested in the machine as an ambiguous, emancipatory and manipulative force, and in the potential of kinetics as a means of exploring human nature, the human body, and its inter-relationships with technology. The use of sensors in her work forms a direct relationship between viewer and machine, although the roles of each within this relationship remain blurred and unclear.

Laura has recently completed her Masters of Fine Art by research at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her solo exhibition "Pulse" was shown at Bus Gallery in November 2008. Laura has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including the McClelland Sculpture Survey and Award in 2007. In 2007 she received a Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists, and also received the the Vulcan Steel Postgraduate Tutorship Award. In 2008 Laura was shortlisted for an Asialink Residency to Ssamzie Space in Seoul, South Korea. In collaboration with Jem Freeman, her short animated films "Please" and "Smog" concurrently won Best Film in 2007 and 2008 in the 15/15 International Film Festival.