A sculpture by local artist Doug Neil has been accepted as one of five finalists in an international competition run by Christchurch’s Japanese sistercity, Kurashiki.

Mr Neil’s Pillars of Wisdom, in model form, was accepted for the Kurashiki Machikado Open Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. As a finalist, Mr Neil was awarded $40,000 to construct his sculpture and transport it to Japan for judging.

When completed, the sculpture will be two columns of carved granite, each column a single pillar of 1m modules stacked and pinned together, with its base pinned into concrete.

His completed design will join four other finalists in an exhibition in Kurashiki from 1-23 March next year. Judging will take place at that time. The winner stands to receive a prize of $120,000, while fifth place draws a monetary prize of $10,000.

The annual competition has been running since 1996.

The exhibition coincides with celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the Kurashiki-Christchurch sister-city link, established in 1973.

One of Mr Neil’s recent sculptures, a carved seat, can be seen in the Seattle Garden in Halswell Quarry Park.