Judges have selected an exciting collection of 123 artworks which will form the finalist exhibitions of the $60,000 2013 Fleurieu Art Prize- the world’s richest landscape painting prize.
The shortlist, revealed at a showcase event in Adelaide tonight, includes work by artists Robert Hannaford, Richard Bell, Chris Orchard, Peter Daverington, Richard Dunlop, Dani Marti, Giles Alexander, Fiona Lowry and Tim Johnson.
Nigel Hurst of London’s Saatchi Gallery, artist Michael Zavros and the Samstag Museum’s Erica Green are this year’s judges and will announce the overall winner at a gala cocktail party on October 26.
Hurst has praised the quality and individuality of the entries.
“I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to help judge the Fleurieu Art Prize 2013. The quality of the entries and particularly those shortlisted is quite remarkable,” Hurst says.
“The primary focus on landscape is by no means limiting, because the artists have absorbed many aspects of their contemporary environment and chosen very individual ways to communicate this, demonstrating extraordinary talent, energy and vision to create unique and very diverse work.”
The shortlist includes work from artists from all states and territories of Australia, as well as an international entry. These were selected from a record 1,226 first round entries.
Fleurieu Art Prize General Manager Karen Paris says the artworks are very diverse in style, subject and technique.
“The prize exhibitions will be very dynamic, with an intriguing range of interpretations of ‘landscape’, from contemporary to modern and traditional, and great variation in both subject matter and medium,” Miss Paris says.
“The judges have selected work by some very established artists from all around Australia, plus some exciting newer artists coming to the fore and, with 123 works to be exhibited, it will be well worth spending a few days stay in the region taking them all in.
“A quality contingent of works by Indigenous artists has also been selected, including works by Margaret Loy Pula, Richard Bell, Josie Kunoth Petyarre and Gladdy Kemarre.”
The finalist exhibitions will be held from October 26 to November 25 in galleries and wineries in the McLaren Vale and wider Fleurieu region.
A collection of 37 artworks by South Australian artists working with a water or environmental sustainability theme have also been shortlisted for the $5,000 Local Water and Environment Prize, presented by Flinders University and announced on November 9.
These exhibitions will be supported by an invitational sculpture exhibition, a youth sculpture commission and an invitational landscapes exhibition which will also be on display at Adelaide Airport.
Tickets to the awards night cocktail party at d’Arenberg Winery, when the winner will be announced, are now on sale. The official event program is also now available at www.artprize.com.au.
The full list of shortlisted artists, plus a selection of downloadable artwork imagery, is available via the link at www.artprize.com.au.
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