Great Southern Art Award Winners 2019

23 April 2019

A three-dimensional artwork has won the major prize in the Great Southern Art Award for the first time.

Kevin Draper was awarded the City of Albany Acquisitive Prize for his piece ‘As Above – So Below’, taking home a $5,000 prize and either a supported exhibition or a month working in an artist studio at Vancouver Arts Centre.

Judges Lance Hyde, Kate Campbell-Pope and Kirsten Sivyer said the artwork displays meaning and material woven together with precision and poetry.“It speaks of emergence, reflection and depth,” the judges said.

The trio of adjudicators were impressed by more than 80 entries and spent all Thursday deliberating their decision before announcing the winners at the award’s official opening.

Carol Farmer won the Works on Paper Award with her piece ‘Water Eroded Granite Slab above Dingo Beach 1’ which the judges described as a topographic triptych echoing both micro and macro aspects of the landscape.

The Print Award winner was Taysha Barrett with her artwork “Self Portrait with Matiise”, which the judges said was a sophisticated blend of two images, simultaneously humorous and arresting.

In a large field of skilled paintings, Beth Kirkland’s artwork “Mist” came out on top, while Rachel Solomon’s piece “Chimera” won the 3D award.

“The work is playful yet confronting in its reference to waste and genetic hybridisation,” the judges said. The 18 to 35-year-old HITFM Acquisitive Award was won by Eve Young for her pencil and pastel on paper artwork, “Fleeting”.

The Great Southern Art Award will be on exhibition at Vancouver Arts Centre from April 19 to June 1.