Gold Coast City Gallery is pleased to announce 58 works have been selected for the 2015 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award.
The works were judged by Melbourne-based curator, writer and former inaugural Director of Utopia@Asialink, University of Melbourne, Natalie King, who had the challenging job of narrowing down the selection from more than 330 entries. Gallery Manager John Wash said the selected works capture the evolving nature of photographic art practice in Australia: ‘Photographers are increasingly joining forces to produce collaborative works, this year we have seven works that are the result of partnerships between artists,’ he said.
‘It is very pleasing to see many past winners represented in this year’s show including our inaugural winner David Stephenson recognised for his collaborative work with Martin Walch. Other past winners selected in 2015 are Helen Pynor, Darren Sylvester, Justine Varga and Polxeni Pappetrou, who is the single artist most represented in the Award throughout its history,’ Mr Walsh said.
Artist Ben Rak, featured in our current Cutback: Surfing Through Art exhibition, has been recognised for his collaboration with Abdullah Syeed, and another Cutback artist Chris Bennie is a finalist again in 2015 for a work from a recent series which reflects on man-made and natural disasters, developed from time spent in Rockhampton and Fukushima. Renowned photographer and portrait artist Greg Weight has been recognised for his contemplative desert landscape Solitude 1 with a star-filled night sky that invites us to ponder the enormity and beauty of the universe.
Senior Curator, Virginia Rigney said that this year will be a particularly special one for the Award: ‘This year we will launch a new publication Prizing Diversity, published by Thames & Hudson, that will document the history of the Photography Award,’ she said.
To be launched in May, the book will also document the two other cultural prizes that the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Foundation has supported – for poetry and literature – which are now administered and supported by Griffith University. Ms Rigney said the timing of the publication is significant and comes just as the announcement has been made for the Gallery to expand to new premises as part of Stage One of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct which will open in late 2017.
‘Photography is going to be central to our programming and this publication highlights the growing depth of our collection and, thanks to the support of the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Foundation for the Arts, our ongoing commitment to this important medium represented in our City Collection and exhibition program.’ Ms Rigney said.
The winner will be announced at the opening event and will receive $20,000 in prize money and their work will be acquired for the City Collection.
Gold Coast City Gallery
28 March to 31 May, 2015
Opening Event and Prize Announcement: Saturday 28 March, 5.00 for 5.30pm.
RSVP to gallery@theartscentregc.com.au – 07 5588 4067
Queensland
For a full list of Public Programs visit www.theartscentregc.com.au
Polixeni Papapetrou, The Immigrant, 2014, pigment ink print. Courtesy of the artist and Stills Gallery Sydney
Greg Weight, Solitude 1, 2013, ink jet print on cotton rag. Courtesy of the artist
