IT MIGHT look like the most uncomfortable seat on Earth, but this chair has the rare privilege of having its design inspired by the opulently colored sea anemone, which is a close relative of coral and jellyfish.
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Much like the real anemones, this chair looks as though it could give a good sting and it certainly sorted out the competition at The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, which is on display at the National Archives of Australia.
The chair won first prize in the sculpture and objects category and was created by Margarita Sampson who titled it: Anemone Incursions II.
It was entered in the textiles category and was made with a recycled chair.
Sampson said the intention of the work was to serve as a reminder of the persistent presence of nature and our place within it.
''We are all connected to every living being on the Earth, whether they sport tentacles, fur, bark or cilia,'' she said.
''Here, underwater tentacle-forms creep over a chair into our domestic, disenfranchised interior worlds in order to colonise our collective consciousness.''
The National Archives in Canberra is the only venue outside Adelaide to host the top entries in the competition, which is organised by the South Australian Museum. It is Australia's richest natural history art competition with a prize pool of $114,500.
Each year the entries aim to reflect and celebrate the beauty and fragility of nature.
''We feel very privileged to host this exhibition and we value our ongoing collaboration with the South Australian Museum,'' National Archives director general David Fricker said.
''We are particularly pleased that we have the top entries here during Floriade when so many locals and visitors have a keen awareness of the beauty of our natural world.''
The exhibition opened yesterday and features top entries in paintings, works on paper, sculpture and objects categories. It will be on display until November 11 and entry is free.
