Clifford Chance

Ana Catarina Pereira receives the Clifford Chance/University of the Arts

The Clifford Chance/University of the Arts London Sculpture Award 2013 has been given to Ana Catarina Pereira, who completed her MA Postgraduate studies at the Chelsea College of Art in 2012. The £3000 Award gives the selected artist the opportunity to display new sculptures in the Reception of Clifford Chance's offices at Canary Wharf for six months.

Ana Catarina Pereira’s practice is primarily process-led. Working in steel, she explores procedures that allow her to activate, or annul, its intrinsic properties, showing its potential for construction and destruction. Her research is orientated toward the history of the metal, reflecting concerns with humanity, politics and feminism. Ana Catarina's sculptures combine steel with materials that change over time, exploring notions of transience and impermanence, creating a dialectical juxtaposition between strong and fragile elements. Her proposal for Clifford Chance is to develop a body of work that is based on the theoretical behaviour of steel during its handling, in both a metallurgical and artistic sense, and will be combined with paper clay, a material, she considers, is resonant for a law firm.

The Clifford Chance Art Group, who selected Ana Catarina Pereira (b. Lisbon, 1972) from a shortlist compiled by the University, commented that 'Ana Catarina's work has a strength and purity to it that contrasts excitingly with the architectural environment of our building. The simplicity of line and uncomplicated process of manufacture results in a sculptural language that visitors to the building will immediately respond to. Viewers of her work will find Ana Catarina's practice of combining materials and her sense of balance and placement stimulating and rewarding. We cannot wait to see her sculptures installed at 10 Upper Bank Street.’

According to Ana Catarina Pereira 'it is a great honour to receive the Award and a wonderful chance to be able to continue my work as a sculptor. This opportunity allows me to develop what I love to do and experience life as a professional artist, after years of study.'