‘Selfies’ take centre stage in portraiture talent

The annual search for Tasmania’s most talented emerging portraiture artist is now in its final
stages with finalists being selected for the 2013 RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture
Prize (TPP).

The TPP, which received more than 70 entrants this year, has now been narrowed down to
33 finalists from across the State.

RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers said the aim of the TPP was to contribute to the creation
of a significant body of portraiture art in the State, which Tasmanians have again embraced
with entries improving year after year in both quality and innovation.

“This year we have seen a wide range of works, including a self-portrait using graphite on
paper, a painted reproduction of a ‘selfie’ to reflect society’s social media trends as well as a
coloured pencil piece from a young resident of the Pontville Alternative Place of Detention,”
Mr Sayers said.

“RACT Insurance is proud to contribute to the revitalisation of art across the State and we
hope this award continues to grow and encourage aspiring artists to share their unique
work.”

Mr Sayers said the judges this year had a very tough task ahead of them in selecting a
winner from the 33 finalists.

“We are lucky to have some great judges for this year’s award, including 2011 winner of the
TPP Robert O’Connor, editor of the national journal Art Monthly Australia Maurice
O’Riordan, and renowned visual artist Greg Leong,” he said.

“Their assessments of the pieces have already started, with the winner to be announced on
Wednesday, 4 September 2013.”

The competition, now in its sixth year, was established to create a platform for emerging
Tasmanian artists to exhibit their talents, while also creating a piece reflecting life in 21st
century Tasmania.

The 2013 TPP winner will receive $5,000 in prize money and a trip for two to the Archibald
Prize exhibition in Sydney, while this year’s second prize has increased from $500 to $2,000
to assist with studio rent.

RACT Insurance encourages all Tasmanians to come along and support the State’s
emerging artists at the TPP exhibition in the Long Gallery in Hobart from 5 – 15 September.
The Devonport Regional Gallery from 28 September – 27 October and the Sawtooth Gallery
in Launceston from 2 – 25 November.

Artist Statement – Alison McCrindle

Selfie Self Portrait is a painted reproduction of the relatively new phenomenon whereby the
photographer is the subject of the photograph. This technique is generally achieved by using a mobile
phone or other media device and which allows instant uploading to facebook or any other sort of social
networking website. In a selfie you can usually see the person’s arm holding out the camera device like
in this portrait.

Through the act of a selfie the photographer/subject matter achieves a sense of instant gratification.
This gratification is normally taken further by uploading the photo to a social media network which soon
attracts attention from others. One could say an act of self-interest or even attention seeking behavior,
a rather innate nature of the human being. This self-portrait isn’t about self-centeredness. It is merely a
reflection of the emerging trend in today’s social media culture.

Artist statement – Helen Goninon

Self portrait – Helen achieved renewed vigour by ingesting her culture nasally
Graphite on paper, 56 x 76 cm, 2013

ʻNot long ago, Hobart was an end-of-the-world sort of town that seemed
achingly far from anywhere – and particularly far from culture. It was not the
kind of place where you would find people queuing for a museum, out dancing
on a Friday night, dining on imaginative, cosmopolitan food or quaffing topnotch
local wines. Hobart was rather stolidly staid: a nice place to visit for its
gorgeous natural setting, but not the place for much creativity or culture.ʼ –
Gabi Mocatta, ʻHip Hobartʼ, BBC Travel, 10th May 2013

Artist statement – Ajai

I don’t know from where and how I should start. I chose this portrait for many reasons. I’m a 16 year
old boy living without my mother and my family. I can say I came to Australia by boat in a very
dangerous condition. From the first time from when I put my foot in the door I felt alone. After the
days that passed I went to the library and I saw a woman there, at that moment I felt comfortable.
She is very kind, having great heart. What can I say she looks to me like my mother. Do you know
what her name is? She has sweet name, like her sweet heart ‘Ajai’. Interesting is here that the word
Ajai is in Hazaragi language, and it means Grandmother. I asked Ajai “where you get your name?”
She said the other guys here, they were calling me Ajai. She said to me you can also call me Ajai.
From here I understood how the Tasmanian people have great hearts. That they can accept another
name which is not from their language, they think widely. She is very kind, whenever I am with her
she tells me about Tasmania and about the people of Tasmania; the way they behave and the way
they talk. And I love to hear more and more about Tasmania from her. I really enjoy being with her.
When I ring my mum I am joking with her and I am saying “I don’t need you anymore” because I
have found another mum who looks similar to you. After that my mum said, “My son, I will always
pray for you, to find good friends and a good person to guide you and show to you the correct way. I
think you have found Ajai, to show you how to live, how to behave and how to respect those older
than yourself. And I am happy hearing from you, that you have Ajai with you”.

When I heard about the Tasmanian Portraiture prize, I was really thinking who would be the person
to draw? Then the days that I passed with Ajai and her lovely sayings reminded me to choose to do
her portrait because she is the only woman for me that looks like my mum. Then I decided to start
her portrait. The days I was busy with Ajai’s portrait I really enjoyed, that’s why I thought to draw
her twice, one with coloured pencils and another with only lead.
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers