The Moran Arts Foundation has revealed the 24 finalists, and their 30 prints, for the ‘2018 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize’ – each receiving $1,000 in cash but only one taking home the $50,000 winning prize and their work acquired and exhibited permanently as part of the Moran Arts Foundation Collection.
‘The final 30 represent a wonderful cross-section of contemporary Australia, with some beautiful, some dynamic, and some challenging images and themes,’ says this year’s judge, Jon Jones. ‘There was a broad consensus with all three judges after the semi-final stage, with everyone voicing the merits of their choices and personal favourites, and after much discussion, numerous emails, phone calls, and a final late round via Skype, we all managed to agree on the final 30. Having the British and Australian points of view certainly contributed to a fantastic final selection.’
The 2018 finalists are: Marion Abboud, James Bugg, Maria Colaidis, Jo Cripps, Tamara Dean, Stephen Dupont, Adam Ferguson, Jon Frank, Michael Garbutt, Natalie Grono, Sam Harris, Simon Harsent Tim Hillier, Katrin Koenning, Sarah Malone, Trent Mitchell, Justine Muller, Isabella Moore, Tajette O’Halloran, Dean Sewell, Tobias Titz, Jacob Wallwork and April Ward.
The Moran Arts Foundation invited photographers to interpret ‘Contemporary Life in Australia’ with an emphasis on Australians going about their day-to-day life reflecting diversity, multiculturalism and individuality.
Established in 2007, the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize is a national competition that awards and promotes Australian contemporary photography and excellence in all forms of still, photo-based artwork – including analogue and digital photography or staged and directorial photo-media work.
The 2018 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize Finalist Exhibition will be held at Juniper Hall in Paddington, Sydney, from Saturday 5 May 2018. The winner to be announced at the exhibition opening Tuesday May 8, 2018.