The biennial Dobell Drawing Prize celebrates technique, innovation, and expanded drawing practices. The $30,000 acquisitive prize is presented by the National Art School in partnership with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and explores the enduring importance of drawing within contemporary art practice. Winning works are entered into the National Art School Collection, built over the past 120 years.
Recently Meanjin/Brisbane-based artist Jane Grealy was announced the winner of the Dobell Drawing Prize #23 for her pastel on paper work Maria’s Garden, Scheme C.
Grealy’s practice is inspired by her work as an architectural illustrator, using observations of both existing and imagined buildings, landscapes, and spaces. The piece depicts the garden of Grealy’s neighbour Maria, whose philosophy is “waste not, want not.” Immigrating from war-torn Italy, Maria has worked and thrifted to cultivate her garden and supply her family with food and ensure nothing is wasted. This notion is reflected in the detail of the drawing, which is overlaid with a “wire frame” digital perspective line drawing to indicate present and future ways of living. With her suburb under pressure from new developments, homes and gardens are being rapidly demolished, Maria’s garden will one day be lost.
Jane Grealy, Maria’s Garden, Scheme C, 2022, pastel on paper, 67 × 108cm
Grealy comments on her winning work:
“As a refugee from war-torn Italy, this garden was Maria’s insurance policy for her family, and I know it’s going to disappear eventually with urban development,” said Grealy, who has overlaid a “wire frame” digital perspective line drawing implying a future building. “It represents the conflict we have today – the garden will be lost, built over because we all want certain kinds of houses now. There’s no right or wrong, for me art is a way to reflect on this.
“My opportunities have come late in life. When I was young I was told I could not be an artist, there was no art at my high school. I became an architectural illustrator and while I was always working to other people’s specifications, I did my own arts apprenticeship, and in the end it gave me access to a life I’d always wanted as a practicing artist. When I first visited the National Art School in Sydney two years ago, I immediately felt that was where I should have been 50 years ago, there just wasn’t the opportunity.”
This year the prize was judged by Catherine O’Donnell, Katrina Cashman, and Paula Latos-Valier. O’Donnell commented on the judges’ decision:
“Jane’s work is beautifully executed, very skilful but also expanding drawing to a different level with her layering of architectural elements. It was a unanimous choice. We did look at lots of different works, the standard was very high so it was a tough decision, but we came back to this one.
“It’s about so many things, the balance between nature and the built environment, about time passing, the past, present and future. The work looks outstanding in the gallery, it’s very well deserved.”
The exhibition of sixty-four finalists’ works is on view from 31 March to 10 June 2023 at the National Art School Gallery, Sydney.
