Melissa Young

I like experimenting when sculpting, new ideas and themes often evolve from conversations that I’ve had or scenes that I have observed. My work is a social commentary on life. The naming of the works is also important to me. I think it gives an insight into my ideas behind the work and hopefully expresses some of my personality and humour.

Wellington artist Melissa Young won first-equal place for her sculpture ‘Experience is the Mother of Knowledge’ in the 2002 Pacific Art Awards. The entrants were asked to respond to the theme of ‘Old Narratives, New Histories—Past, Present and Future’. As a third generation Chinese born in New Zealand, Melissa chose to centre her work around the family’s migration and the growth of the two cultures. Judges acclaimed her work as exquisite and truly embracing of the theme.