Local stars shine in 2024 Art Awards
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Chen He has been named the overall winner of the prestigious City of Wanneroo Community Art Awards and Exhibition, taking home the grand prize for her painting, Cheerful Yanchep Lagoon.
Chen was one of 11 winners whose artistic talents were recognised as part of the 2024 Art Awards and took home a share of the $18,700 prize pool.
Local residents submitted 60 of the 143 entries to this year’s awards, which included 101 paintings, 21 works on paper, 10 photo, film and digital pieces and 11 sculptures.
An independent judging panel comprising Art Gallery of Western Australia Associate Curator, Isobel Wise, University of Western Australia Associate Professor of Art History, Darren Jorgensen, and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts Director, Hannah Matthews, assessed this year’s entries.
Mayor Linda Aitken said this year’s event not only celebrated the talent within our community but connected it with the global art scene.
“We’re very proud to host this exhibition and offer local artists a platform to showcase their incredible creativity,” she said.
“We’re especially excited about the unique opportunity for our local artists to exhibit their work alongside a discrete selection of some of the most recognisable works by internationally renowned pop artist, Andy Warhol.
“This exhibition is a great opportunity for art lovers to see a variety of styles and techniques, and we’re confident this year’s amazing and eclectic offerings will be a popular attraction."
Visit the free exhibition on display at the Wanneroo Gallery until Saturday 13 July, Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
Visitors to the exhibition can take part in the judging of the People's Choice Award by nominating their favourite artwork, with the winning entry to be announced on 15 July.
For more information, please phone 9405 5911 or visit wanneroo.wa.gov.au/arts.
PRIZES
City of Wanneroo Open Award (acquisitive)
Artist: Chen He
Title: Cheerful Yanchep Lagoon
Medium: Handmade brush, ink and wash on mulberry hemp paper
Judges’ comments: The artist has employed an accomplished technique to give a sensibility to a favourite local site. This is an intimate, humble piece of work that speaks louder than its scale.
Best City of Wanneroo Resident
Artist: Judy Rogers
Title: 6064
Medium: Mixed media on board
Judges’ comments: This well resolved meditation upon the artist’s neighbourhood captures the complex, intertwined and thorny set of relationships that make up a community.
Highly Commended Wanneroo Resident
Artist: David Hall
Title: Shhhhh.....
Medium: Watercolour
Judges’ comments: An atmospheric, evocative use of the watercolour medium to convey a big weather event.
Painting Winner
Artist: Umberto Pardini
Title: Barga in Snow Tuscany Italy
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Judges’ comments: This excellent painting appears like it comes from a different world, evocative of presumably the intimate memories of the artist, and the timelessness of the Italian regions.
Painting Highly Commended
Artist: Sarah Grange
Title: Just A Minute
Medium: Oil paint and resin
Judges’ comments: Through a distinct, original use of resin with a high range of colours, the artist shows a marvellous confidence and clear vision of her dynamic subject.
Sculpture Winner
Artist: Sam Bruce
Title: Copper Sky Vessel
Medium: Raku fired ceramic
Judges’ comments: It is difficult not to touch and smell the incredible, soft texture of this large iconic form.
Sculpture Highly Commended
Artist: Michelle Gauntlett
Title: Holding Hope
Medium: Fine silver sheet
Judges’ comments: The technique behind this form reveals the underwater landscape that informs its surface detail, the shimmer of silver revealing the reflections of light in water.
Works on Paper overall
Artist: Janice Oliver
Title: Out of the Ruins: New Life
Medium: Eco etch and stone lithograph print making (unique state)
Judges’ comments: The flattening effect of the lithograph squashes the layers into a moment in time. The child speaks to the new life of its title.
Works on Paper Highly Commended
Artist: Luke Lewis
Title: Floating
Medium: Coloured pencil on paper
Judges’ comments: This turtle appears alive, captured in motion, as the artist creates three dimensionality through shading and surface detail.
Photo, Film and Digital Media Winner
Artist: Mei Swan Lim
Title: Ruffs in Lagoon
Medium: Video
Judges’ comments: The textures and watery movements in this video work have a beautiful ambience and offer the viewer a sense of inspiration from place.
Photo, Film and Digital Media Highly Commended
Artist: Audra de Pina
Title: TLC
Medium: Photography
Judges’ comments: The picture of trees and vines taking over an old cottage speaks to the movement of time and nature, the ephemerality of all spaces we occupy.