The Blake Society and The NSW Writers’ Centre are delighted to announce the winners of the 62nd Blake Prize and the 6th Blake Poetry Prize. The Blake Prize is one of Australia’s longest standing and most prestigious art prizes, which explores the religious and the spiritual through art. From approximately 900 entries received, the finalist selection of 73 artists included a representative from every state and territory across Australia.
This year the Blake Prize has been awarded to internationally renowned South Australian artist, the late Trevor Nickolls. The artist sadly passed away in 2012 at the age of 63. It is the first time in the history of the Blake that the prestigious prize has been given posthumously. Among his many life achievements, Nickolls was the first Aboriginal artist to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale, along with Rover Thomas in 1990.
The award-winning painting Metamorphosis was according to Nickolls inspired by the transformation of the physical being into the spiritual. In the work, an Aboriginal man has transformed into a butterfly (a ‘mimi spirit butterfly’) on his way to the spiritual realm. The artist said of the work: “I have included elements that are both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal – like the peace doves on each side of the Aboriginal man – which are Christian. This represents me – I am Aboriginal and also have other ancestry and was brought up Christian. In a number of my works I have tried to capture the spiritual connection Aboriginal people have to the physical world around them, the land, sea, animals and cosmos…. everything is interconnected in this world.” This painting was one of three works which featured spirits and which were completed shortly before the artist’s death.
This year’s Blake Poetry Prize has been awarded to renowned Australian poet and academic Anthony Lawrence. Judges described his award-winning poem, Appellations, as: “edgy, breathtaking, intoxicating to read and highly skilful.”
The MUA Blake Prize for Human Justice, sponsored by the Maritime Union of Australia, has been awarded to internationally acclaimed artist Franz Kempf AM. Based in Adelaide, Kempf is an Australian art world veteran and widely respected for his work both here and overseas. As a humanist and as a spiritual and religious artist, Kempf’s The Outrageous Has Become Commonplace, was a clear and deserving choice by judges for this year’s prize for human justice.
The John Coburn Emerging Artist Award has this year been awarded to young Sydney-based video artist David Capra. The award-winning video work Year of Jubilee depicts handmade banners used in a Sunday morning service at Sydney’s Jubilee International Church.
“The Blake Prize and Poetry Prize both equally challenge artists and writers to explore the perennially fascinating subjects of religion, spirituality and human justice. More than 60 years since it was founded, the Blake is still one of the most respected, diverse and open ended art prizes in Australia today,” said Rev Dr Rod Pattenden, Chairperson for of The Blake Society.
2013 Blake Prize
Galleries UNSW – College of Fine Arts (COFA)
Until November 16, 2013
Sydney
Images:
Winner 62nd Blake Prize, Metamorphosis by the late artist Trevor Nickolls
Winner, MUA Blake prize for Human Justice, The Outrageous Has Become Commonplace by Franz Kempf AM
Winner, John Coburn Emerging Artist Award, Year of Jubilee by David Capra, [image still]