Youth Art Prize on tour in Orbost, Lakes Entrance

Some of the region’s top artistic talent will be on show at Orbost and Lakes Entrance this month as the Youth Art Prize exhibition goes on tour following the works being displayed at the Forge Theatre and Arts Hub in October.

Now in its second year, the Youth Art Prize was open to anyone aged 12-25 years who lives, works or studies in East Gippsland.

The Youth Art Prize winner is Rylie Hubbard with his work ‘Philomena, Mistress of the Million Moons’. The 23-year-old said he had always been enamoured with science fiction.

His piece features a woman with a number of eyes on the side of her head and tentacles down one side.

“It took about 50 hours to create and I used watercolour ink and pencils. It represents dealing with something you don’t understand, and coming out the other end slightly different,” Rylie said.

“I’m excited to win. This has been my favourite painting for some time; I’m glad to know other people appreciate it as much as I do.”

Second place was Phoebe O’Brien’s ‘The Age of Innocence’. The three, dual-layer acrylic stencil prints show three young children aged between one and six.

Phoebe said this is an age range that is often referred to as a depiction of innocence as these children have not been in a position to harm others and also likely have not yet encountered the true evil of the world.

Third place was ‘Anguish (After Schenck)’ by Harley Kewish. It responds to and appropriates August Schenck’s famous work on show at the National Gallery of Victoria. The painting portrays a level of claustrophobia, suffocation and pain.

Special Mentions went to Amy Nancarrow for ‘Flowers’ and Victor Karpany with ‘NAIDOC Week’.

Sixteen-year-old Amy said she’s always loved art.

“I like detailed work because there is lots to look at. This piece took around three hours to complete,” Amy said.

Victor, aged 23, created his piece as a commission work for a local organisation.

“It took around four weeks to complete and depicts snakes, eggs, and waterholes. I work with all different colours but the organisation I created this for requested earthy tones,” Victor said.

This year’s judges were Gippsland Art Gallery curator Erin Mathews, Great Alpine Art Gallery president Tracey Johnson and 2018 East Gippsland Youth Art Prize winner Lauren Hickey.

Artworks will be on display at the Orbost Customer Service Centre from November 12-15 and the Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre from November 19 to December 6.

 Youth Art Prize winner Ryley Hubbard, of Bairnsdale, with his work, made with watercolour ink and pencil.

 Bairnsdale’s Amy Nancarrow with ‘Flowers’, which received a Special Mention.

Trey Baxter checks out his friend Victor Karpany’s artwork, ‘NAIDOC Week’ which received a Special Mention.