The alternative Archibalds

Art enthusiasts who find the lines too long at the Archibald can always hop across town to the Salon Des Refuses.

Now in its 19th year, the exhibition at the S.H. Ervin Gallery features works which were entered into the Archibald and Wynne Prizes but not selected.

However Leah Haynes, Media and Public Programs Manager for the National Trust, assures punters that these works are in no way inferior to their Archibald counterparts.

“Some of the best work is often overlooked by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales,” she says.

The exhibition features 42 works selected from over 1,500 entries. Ms Haynes says the criteria for selection include quality, diversity, humour and innovation.

Salon Des Refuses is inspired by the French Impressionists of the 1860s who held a breakaway exhibition from the French Academy.

“A whole bunch of works were thrown out of an exhibition and that included Pisarro and Manet,” Ms Haynes says.

“Back then that’s what got thrown out, so you never know what will … end up in the S.H. Ervin gallery that might go on to be future stars.”

Ms Haynes says the entries come from an eclectic range of artists.

“I think that’s the beauty of it – it’s artists from all around the country, there’s former Archibald winners in the show, former Moran prize winners, former Wynne [Prize] winners, and there’s people we’ve never heard of before,” she says.

Also of interest, Ms Haynes says, are the subjects, who include Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Spigelman, feminist and author Germaine Greer, and Melbourne figure Mick Gatto.

“It’s nice to be able to see who people are painting as much as how they painted them or how they interpreted the way they view portraiture,” she says.

“I think it’s [also] great to be able to compare what’s on at the Art Gallery of NSW and what’s also on here at S.H. Ervin Gallery.”

Salon Des Refuses runs until 23 of May at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, The Rocks. Hours are 11am to 5pm. Closed Mondays.