A narrative-rich, skilfully executed painting by Melbourne artist Kate Beynon is the winner of the 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize, Geelong Gallery’s acquisitive award for contemporary painting.
Kate Beynon’s Graveyard scene/the beauty and sadness of bones (2014-15) is based on a scene from An-Li: a Chinese ghost tale, the artist’s re-telling of a supernatural story of two young spirits who traverse opposing worlds: one aquatic, the other earthly. The painting reveals an interest in connections between mother and child, ancestral spirits, and the cycle of life and death. This prize-winning work is highly representative of the artist’s practice in which she merges diverse pictorial traditions with personal histories to address issues of hybridity, cultural identity and feminism.
The 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize is a signature event that assists with the development of the Gallery’s collection while fostering Australian artists and contemporary painting practice in general. Over 550 entries were received from around the country for consideration for this year’s prize, with 33 works shortlisted for exhibition.
On behalf of the judging panel, Jason Smith said, “This work by Kate Beynon is highly refined in its pictorial organisation of interrelating forms and striking interactive colour, and quietly but exceptionally powerful in its poignant reflections on death, mourning, earthly life and the spiritual realm. Kate’s touching interpretation of the Chinese ghost tale of An-Li has an emotional resonance with the images and stories of loss and grieving with which we are surrounded in a contemporary world: one in which conflict, terror and instability are counterpointed by the enduring beauty and resilience of nature and generosity of spirit.”
Geelong Gallery
until 13 November, 2016
Victoria
Winner—2016 Geelong contemporary art prize: Kate Beynon, Graveyard scene/the beauty and sadness of bones, 2014-15, synthetic polymer paint on linen
Courtesy the artist and Sutton Gallery, Melbourne
