Two of Australia’s most notable art figures, Karen Quinlan and Bill Henson were joined by Monash Gallery of Art (MGA) Senior Curator, Stephen Zagala to shortlist the record number of entries for this year’s Bowness Photography Prize.
The prestigious $25,000 prize has attracted 696 entrants (+35% on 2014), the largest number received in the history of the prize. With each photographer allowed to submit up to five images the judges had a challenge of looking at 2660 works to select the final 47 finalists.
Stephen Zagala, MGA Senior Curator said on behalf of the judges: “This year the judging panel looked at over 2600 images and selected a field of 47 finalists to represent the best of Australian photography today. The sorting process provides a remarkable opportunity to engage with contemporary photography from across Australia, and the exhibition will allow audiences to see exactly what’s happening at the frontiers of photographic practice”, says Zagala
Bill Henson said of the selection process: “In the end, it really just comes down to how compelling I find a work to be. Matters of subject, issue or agenda have to find a form which is their equal for without that we’re left with something that simply holds no interest for us.”
The winner of the $25,000 non-acquisitive first prize will be announced at a special cocktail party at the MGA on Thursday October 1, 2015.
Finalists for the 2015 Bowness Photography Prize are:
Anne Algar, Brook Andrew, Robert Ashton, Svetlana Bailey, Del Kathryn Barton, Clare Bedford, David Bibby, Devika Bilimoria, Frederico Câmara, Peter Campbell, Danica Chappell, Che Chorley, Peta Clancy, Virginia Cummins, Rebecca Dagnall, Cherine Fahd, David Flanagan, Murray Fredericks, Silvi Glattauer, Wayne Grivell, Molly Harris, Kern Hendricks, Lyndal Irons, Mark Kimber, Courtney Krawec, Michael Krzanich, Cathy Laudenbach, Jon Lewis, David Manley, Andrew HC McDonald, Joseph McGlennon, Rod McNicol, Bill Moseley, Ward Roberts, Daniel Shipp, Valerie Sparks, Rodney Stewart, Rebekah Stuart, Ian Tippett, Justine Varga, John Watson, Kim Westcott, Peter Whyte, Amanda Williams, Rudi Williams, Melissa Williams-Brown and Carolyn Young.
Monash Gallery of Art (MGA)
1 October to 22 November, 2015
Melbourne
Joseph McGlennon, Florilegium #1, 2014, from the series ‘Florilegium’, pigment ink-jet print, 127 x 100cm
Courtesy of the artist and Michael Reid, Sydney
Murray Fredericks, North Stradbroke, 2014, from the series ‘Origins’, pigment ink-jet print, 90 x 250cm
Courtesy of the artist, ARC One, Melbourne and Annandale Galleries, Sydney
Cathy Laudenbach, Hallstatt See Hallstatt, 2015, from the series ‘Landscapes of desire’, pigment ink-jet print, 66.9 x 80cm
Reproduction courtesy of the artist
Jon Lewis, Streetportrait1, 2015, from the series ‘Sydney street portraits’, pigment ink-jet print, 80 x 100cm
Courtesy of the artist