Prize winning School of Art graduate

A graduate of the ANU School of Art, Masahiro Asaka, has been awarded the $15,000 Ranamok Glass Prize. It was announced this week that Asaka's entry - Surge 12 - had been selected from the works of 32 finalists at the Canberra Glassworks.

The Ranamok Glass Prize, now in its 17th year, aims to encourage creativity, skill and innovation in contemporary glass from Australia and New Zealand.

Asaka explained that his work is part of a series in which he has explored the physical attributes and changing forms of glass. The artist's work is influenced by traditional Japanese crafts - particularly ceramics.

Asaka was one of a number of ANU graduates, including Mel Douglas, Annette Blair, Brian Corr, Richard Whiteley, Jenni Kemarre Martinello and Nikki Main, who were juried in the Ranamok exhibition this year. Asaka came from Japan to study at the ANU and graduated with a Master of Arts in 2008.

The works produced by the finalists will be exhibited at the Canberra Glassworks until 22 September.