Eutick Memorial Still Life Award (EMSLA), the country’s only national prize in the genre, celebrated its 11th consecutive year with a new $20,000 non-acquisitive first prize, and relocation to the city of Wollongong, New South Wales.
Judged by art critic and historian John McDonald, the winner of EMSLA 2017 is Melbourne-based artist Gina Kalabishis for her work, Passing Pulpit Rock – Distant Sky (After Nick Cave and Else Torp) (2017).
Winner EMSLA 2017 – Gina Kalabishis, Passing Pulpit Rock Distant Sky (after Nick Cave & Else Torp), 2017, oil on linen, 86 x 124cm
Kalabishis explores the feeling of love in all its permutations. Utilising the motifs and mythology of Australia’s native flora, and creating compositions inspired by ikebana arrangements, she constructs intimate interior/landscape narratives in which the human experience becomes enmeshed with the beauty of nature.
The artist discusses her winning work: ‘Challenging the imagination of what still life can reveal – it’s an emotive love journey of vision and song as one, still life and landscape as equal. Vessel traveling with Bundanon native flora passing pulpit rock back to shore.’
The 2017 EMSLA finalists are: Marina Strocchi, Leigh Schoenheimer, Angus Nivison, Tom Carment, Rick Matear, Tony Irving, Amanda Penrose Hart, Philip Reuter, Zai Kuang, Thornton Walker, Suzanne Archer, John Bokor, Arthur Apanski, Kathryn Fenton, Josh Foley, Chelsea Gustafsson, Ben Fayle, Amber Carbury, Ebony Truscott, Kerry Johns, Craig Waddell, Julie Poulsen, Laurie Mossuto, Jenni Catt, Heidi Yardley, Kalpa Jadeja, Elisa Hall, Pam Tippett, Thomas Thorby-Lister, Madeleine Winch, Lisa Fahey, Brett Sperling, Leanne Halls, Robert Clinch, Louise Thomas, Brenda Runnegar, Stuart Smith, Helen Minogue, Ashley Frost, Paul Higgs, Craig Handley, Rosemary Valadon, Anh Nguyen, Siân McNabney, Polly Wells, Andrea Huelin, Barry Fitzpatrick, Jacqueline Butterworth, Ann Musgrave, Gina Fishman, Christine Aspland, Susan Shortridge, Anne-Marie Zanetti, Nathan Taylor, Alison Mitchell, Sylvia McEwan, Peter Griffen, Nickie Belbeck, Angela Chauvin, Seabastion Toast, Julie Cane, Mirra Whale, Sue MacLeod-Beere, Linda Greedy, Gina Kalabishis, Matilda Michell, Robert Fenton & Deb Mostert and Ivan Macarambon.
A finalists’ exhibition is currently on show at Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong until 9 December 2017.
Gina Kalabishis is represented by Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne.
