TALKING THROUGH YOUR ARTS: ART RAT – WHAT SMELLS
Gazing at paintings or photographs, standing before sculptures or monuments, conversing with friends and colleagues, in search of approval at the thought of your creation being subjected to censure or derision.
Northern NSW artist Celia Morgan was announced winner of the inaugural Chippendale New World Art Prize (CNWAP), only to be withdrawn from the award when the judges clapped eyes on the physical work. In a media release Source qua Future qua Source was proclaimed by the judges to be a work of “ingenuity in combining old and new art techniques to create a unique and powerful visual experience.” The official winner Bryden William’s work, Techno Fire, was according to an updated announcement unanimously chosen by the judges for “its ingenuity in combining the themes of the CNWAP and with carefully considered objects in the creation of his installation.”
The two works were submitted under the theme Embracing Art, Renewal and Cultural Transformation. The competition is an initiative of the Chippendale Creative Precinct (CCP) and draws in the City of Sydney’s 2030 vision. The Founder of CCP and Director of NG Gallery, Nicky Ginsberg aims to create the New York equivalent of Chelsea in Chippendale. The CNWAP patron and Chairman of Frasers Property Australia and CEO of Greencliff Realty, Dr Stanley Quek entrusted $100,000 to foster emerging artists over a 10-year period. Ginsberg implemented a three month art residency at Red Gate Gallery in Beijing with expenses paid, valued at $10,000.
Morgan’s proposed multi-disciplined, interactive artwork was to encompass an outdoor display of mixed media entitled, E Plein Air, French for “painting outdoors”. The actual work exhibited is a graphite drawing of a tree on paper using traditional techniques. William’s Techno Fire, is a multi-media sculpture that is part of a constructed series exploring artificial and natural themes and human relationship with fire and light.
The judging panel was also not without problems with the withdrawal of the recently dismissed Head of the National Art School, Professor Anita Taylor. The panel included the Dean of Sydney College of the Arts, Professor Colin Rhodes, Head of Design at UTS, Dr. Lawrence Wallen and Ginsberg. Taylor who was appointed Director of NAS in 2009, was forced out by the Board who advertised her position at the beginning of the year. Despite the protests of influential industry supporters of Taylor’s direction, the Board’s decision was upheld. One of the many progressive enterprises Taylor is responsible for bringing to NAS is the inclusion of the Redlands Art Prize. Now in its 17th year of competition the NAS is host for the second consecutive year of exhibition.
The Redlands Art Prize competition criteria stipulates no limitations on artistic mediums and invites a different guest curator each year to select an established Australian or New Zealand artist. The acclaimed artist from Lismore, Julie Rrap, selected 21 of her peers who then went on to choose an emerging artist to show alongside. This year’s winning coupling had it ‘covered’. Melbourne based artist Callum Morton’s painting; Cover Up #1 is a vertical piece of grey material over-top of an unknown image. The most important features of minimalism are its philosophical underpinnings. The work can be viewed as autonomous, placed on a wall not limited to the traditional frame of canvas. Performance and installation artist Cigdem Aydemir uses her heritage and identity to communicate strong concepts. Bombshell is a digital video that references Marilyn Monroe over an underground vent as air pushes her white dress upwards, in the film The Seven Year Itch. Aydemir’s signature thematic is herself wearing a black burqa in familiar settings that impress on socio-political concepts within popular culture.
Aydemir’s work finds an unusual syncopation with Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt whose still of Monroe on the set of The Seven Year Itch, will be part of an exhibition of classic photographs from Hollywood’s golden era of cinema, presented by Head On Photo Festival.
Freedom of expression is, perhaps, only granted when it goes at least some way to conforming with the mainstream social and political climate of the day. Now open for submissions, the 62nd Blake Prize is not without its controversies, the precarious line of the contemporary, cultural and religious differences are explored. The many artists who enter, continue to work within set guidelines, conventions or protocols. In 2007 visual artist Luke Sullivan’s Blake Prize submission, The Fourth Secret of Fatima, received international notoriety for the Virgin Mary wearing a burqa and Prime Minister Howard was NOT happy!
Winning an art prize is subjective. Winning on a concept rather than on the merits of a physical presentation as in the case of Morgan, challenges and questions entry criteria. Ginsberg is currently reviewing the process for CNWAP to include the 40 finalist works to be physically installed before judgement is passed in 2014. (AS)
Blake Prize entries close on June 14, 2013
