Redlands Westpac Art Prize
Julie Gough Sculpts Prestigious Prize
The prestigious title of winner of the Redlands Westpac Art Prize and $20,000 prize money has been awarded to Tasmanian artist, Julie Gough for her three-piece sculptural artwork titled ‘Fugitive History: Killymoon, Spearloar, Head Count'.
Julie is a significant artist, writer and curator who uses sculpture, installation and mix media works to re-represent history and explore the impact of colonialism and her own family's experience as Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
Her winning artwork explores the violent and complex interactions between Aboriginal people, convicts and free settlers in early colonial Tasmania, using found natural objects, such as coal and shells from the East Coast of Tasmania, a chair and oar from the region and antlers from the descendant of a colonial family.
Selected Artist Judge, Curator of Contemporary Art - Art Gallery of NSW, Wayne Tunnicliffe, said Julie's artwork was an exceptional piece and an intuitive choice of absolute museum quality.
"Julie is very clever in her application of metaphors, with her use of an old colonial chair converted into an abacus and an ore adorned with shells she has converted these colonial objects into cultural emblems," Mr Tunnicliffe said.
Rising talent Will French was nominated by internationally celebrated artist Mike Parr and was named winner of the Emerging Artist category. He was awarded prize money of $10,000 for his artwork titled ‘Un-Australian', which is a tongue in cheek commentary on the paradoxical notions of national loyalty.
Judges of the Emerging Artist award, Curator of Westpac's Art Collection Saadia Durham and Visual Arts Teacher at Redlands, Fabian Byrne said this year's winning piece, like all entries showed a focus on experimentation.
"Will French's work is a playful take on identity, which invites the viewer to bring their own history to the piece," Ms Durham said.
Melbourne-based sisters, Gabriella and Silvana Mangano received an honorary commendation from the judges and the event curator, prominent Australian artist Imants Tillers for their digital video work, ‘Falling Possibilities', which explored the sensibilities and gestures of drawing.
In his last year as curator of the event, Imants congratulated the two winners and thanked all the artists for their participation at the opening night cocktail party held on Friday 13 November.
"I feel privileged to end my tenure with the Redlands Westpac Art Prize with the greatest diversity of works seen yet, from the nation's leading artists through to the most exciting emerging artists," Mr Tillers said.
The exhibition is on display at the Mosman Art Gallery, cnr Myahgah Rd and Art Gallery Way until Sunday 6 December and also features an exclusive ‘Meet the Artist' event on Friday 20 November from 7pm to 9pm, numbers strictly limited. Admission to both is free.
Redlands thanks its sponsors, especially Westpac and Konica Minolta, whose generous support has helped catapult the Redlands Westpac Art Prize to one of the most sought after prizes for Australian artists.
Click here to download a PDF of the 2009 Catalogue
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2009 Winner of the Redlands Westpac Art Prize: Julie Gough, 'Fugitive History: Killymoon, Spearloar, Head Count'
Emerging Artist Winner: Will French, 'Un-Australian Made'
