Open to the Australian arts community for the third year, the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Program invited artists across the country to enter their work using any array of mediums, including but not limited to print, photography, animation, performance and installation.
This year’s judging panel included: Barry Keldoulis (Group Fairs Director), Evan Williams (CEO of Williams Land Trust), Dr Gene Sherman (Chairman and Executive Director of the Sherman Contemporary Arts Foundation), Mark Hughes (art advisor), and iconic Australian actress Rachel Griffiths.
The judges were extremely impressed by the quality of the entries, and the five finalists were announced as Belem Lett, Elyse De Valle, Hiromi Tango and Craig Walsh, Lillian O’Neil, and Penelope Cain. After a final round of judging by Artist in Residence Program Curator, Andy Fairgrieve, Da Valle took the barrel, winning the 2018 residency sponsored by malt whiskey distillery, Glenfiddich.
Elyse De Valle, exploring the little known narratives permitting her contemplation of creative labour, memories, loss and experience
“With such a strong showing of talent in our five finalists, the winning choice was no easy matter. Of course we can only select one artist but in the end, it was the craft and skill of Elyse’s talent that won the day. I am sure her practice is one that will be fully appreciated by the skilled crafts persons who work at Glenfiddich and for her part I know the exposure to the historic architecture of Scotland will feed and inspire her residency”, says Fairgrieve.
The residency will take place in 2018 where Melbourne artist De Valle will have the opportunity to live and work for three months at the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Scotland alongside other winning artists from all over the world.
Upon finding out she won the Residency, De Valle said, “Memory and narrative play a key role in my work and I hope to share some great stories and shared experiences during my time there, maybe even over a whisky or two. This, along with the extensive archives kept by Glenfiddich, will lead me along interesting paths for my work. I cannot thank the William Grant & Sons Group and the Glenfiddich Distillery enough for this opportunity.”
De Valle utilises materials and sites to express the conceptual concerns of her practice. Her work explores little known narratives that permit her contemplation of creative labour, memories, loss and experience. It is often a pursuit to trace and respond to social history, reflecting on how memory is encoded directly and indirectly within the built form.
glenfiddich.com
williamgrant.com
