Eleven Tasmanians have been selected among 41 national finalists in one of the world’s richest landscape art awards, the Hadley’s Art Prize, announced in Hobart today.
The inaugural prize, themed ‘History and Place’, attracted a remarkable 385 entries from across Australia, the vast majority of which are new works.
Prize Judge and Assistant Director of Artistic Programs at the Art Gallery of South Australia, Lisa Slade, said it was great to see so many entries by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in what was a sensational line-up of finalists.
There were entries from indigenous artists across Australia, as far north as Thursday Island, 11 of which have made the shortlist for the $100,000 Prize.
Prize Curator Dr Amy Jackett said it was also terrific to note that of the 41 finalists, 41 per cent were female artists.
“I’m really excited that the prize has brought such a diverse range of exceptional art to Hobart, sharing many different stories about Australia’s past,” Dr Jackett said.
“I really encourage people to come and experience the work of these incredible contemporary Australian landscape artists, both established and emerging, and especially to have their say in deciding the People’s Choice Award,” she said. “The new gallery spaces have been fully fitted to accommodate contemporary art, while respecting the heritage of Hadley’s Orient Hotel and its stunning features, including an ornate leadlight ceiling in one of the galleries.
“There are some great events on offer to enrich people’s experience of the exhibition, including presentations about the Prize theme, guided tours and packages with Hadley’s signature afternoon tea as well as an Education Kit for school groups.”
The Hadley’s Art Prize is an acquisitive award, with the winning entry added to a permanent art collection at Hadley’s, to be open to the public.
It is set to become one of Australia’s most significant and lucrative art awards, further cementing Tasmania’s reputation as the ‘Island of Art’.
The winner of the $100,000 Prize, to be selected by a panel of three national art specialists – Dr Julie Gough, Roger Butler AM and Lisa Slade – will be announced on July 14.
HADLEY’S ART PRIZE 2017 FINALISTS BY STATE AND TERRITORY
Tasmania
Diane Allison, Where the Land Meets the Sea
Raymond Arnold, Elsewhere World/Prospect and Refuge II
Amanda Davies, The mine site as stage (1974)
Gina, Breathing Space 3
Paul Gundry, The Rosetta Episode
Neil Haddon, We’ll make our own mistakes
Patrick Hall, And While All The Time It Moves Away
Sue Lovegrove, …and all hands danced together
Penny Mason, Tasmanian Summer – Pollen, Mist, Smoke, Hail, Embers
Julie Payne, Maria’s Ark
Luke Wagner, A Different History, Bruny Island, Tasmania, 1793
Victoria
Karen Casey, Mapping Time
Philip Davey, Colonial Landscape
Stephen Haley, Take Away
Tony Lloyd, Near Earth Asteroid with Highway (Ida)
William Mackinnon, Community
Amelda Read-Forsythe, Grieve and Reach
Peter Thomas, Aire River beach, Gadubanud country
South Australia
Alec Baker, Ngayuku Ngura (My Country)
Thom Buchanan , Liminal
Tjungkara Ken, Seven Sisters
James Dodd, Nowhere
David Frank, Indulkana
Peter Mungkuri, Ngura Wiru (Good Country)
Lise Temple, Time Over Ruined Land
Mumu Mike Williams, Mapa Wiya (We Don’t Need a Map)
Western Australia
Susanna Castleden, Rottnest Sunrise
Nyaparu (William) Gardiner, Strelley Mob
Peggy Griffiths, Larrgen
Jane Tangney, The Neck
Nola Yurnangurnu Campbell, Patjarr
Northern Territory
Margaret Loy Pula, Anayte (Bush Potato)
Queensland
Claudia Husband, Lord of the Sky – Compass [Pyxis]
Laura Patterson, Selective Heritage
Brian Robinson, A curious bunch of bits and bobs-Oceanic artefacts at the Australian Museum
New South Wales
Wei Guan, Reflection No. 5
Guy Maestri, Governor’s Ravages
Idris Murphy, Rainbow after broken drought
Louis Pratt, A Sun burnt Country
Luke Sciberras, Quandong Highway
Imants Tillers, Metaphysical Interior with Lighthouse
Prize Curator Dr Amy Jackett
