Lucinda Mcdonald
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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Lucinda McDonald is an accomplished sculptor based in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. Born in the United Kingdom, McDonald's artistic journey has been richly influenced by her diverse upbringing, including formative years spent in South Africa. This multicultural background informs her unique artistic perspective, blending various cultural and environmental experiences.
McDonald's work is characterized by abstract, experimental sculptures that strive to create balanced, playful compositions. Her practice is deeply informed by her welding skills and an acute appreciation for revitalizing existing forms. She predominantly works with recycled steel, transforming offcuts and discarded pieces into harmonious assemblages that challenge traditional perceptions of the medium. Her sculptures exhibit a careful consideration of how individual sections of steel interact, constructing lyrical abstracted assemblages sensitive to color, texture, space, and repetition of shapes. spudlane.com.au
Throughout her career, McDonald has participated in numerous exhibitions and has been recognized for her contributions to contemporary sculpture. Notably, she was a finalist in the Goulburn Art Award in 2011, 2016, 2018, and 2020, and received commendations in the Bowral Art Gallery Sculpture Prize, winning in 2018 and 2022. Her work has been showcased in various galleries, including a solo exhibition titled "Connections" at the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, where she explored the rhizome of experiences, memories, and interactions that have shaped her artistic journey.
​In addition to her sculptural practice, McDonald actively engages with the community through workshops and collaborative projects. She has facilitated sculpture sessions at the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, guiding participants in creating unique pieces from recycled materials, reflecting her commitment to sustainability and artistic experimentation.
​McDonald's work continues to evolve, reflecting her diverse experiences and dedication to transforming reclaimed materials into thought-provoking art. Her sculptures invite viewers to reconsider the potential of discarded objects, highlighting themes of renewal and the intrinsic beauty found in reimagined forms.
PUYOL
From Loss to Learning – The Story of a Fighter
In December 2010, a young male orangutan named Puyol was rescued by International Animal Rescue (IAR) from Kelampai village, West Kalimantan. His name honours Spanish football legend Carles Puyol, who later supported IAR’s awareness campaign—helping shine a global light on the tragic fate of orphaned orangutans like his namesake.
Puyol’s story is one of extreme loss and extraordinary resilience. His mother was brutally killed with a machete and eaten, and Puyol was captured and kept as a pet. When the IAR team found him, he was tied by a rope around his neck outside a house, fed only sugar cane and water. He bore deep wounds on his abdomen and right arm—likely sustained during the attack on his mother.
Rescuing him was no easy feat. Though keeping orangutans is illegal in Indonesia, the owner was reluctant to surrender him, and the IAR team had to threaten police involvement to ensure his release.
At the IAR rescue centre in Ketapang, Puyol was treated for infection and malnutrition. His appetite returned immediately—he eagerly devoured food and formula milk, helping his body accept medication. He quickly grew strong enough to enter baby school, where he began to learn how to climb, forage, and socialise with other young orangutans.
By 2020, Puyol was named as one of five orangutans—alongside Jacky, Beno, Oscarina, and Isin—who were continuing their rehabilitation after being previously kept as pets. His journey through forest school and beyondreflects IAR’s long-term commitment to giving every orangutan the best possible chance at a return to the wild.
From a tragic beginning, Puyol is now a symbol of hope and survival, building strength every day and moving steadily toward a future where he can live free.
