Having found a new home after a five-year hiatus, the 2012 Bankwest Contemporary Art Prize has been awarded to Patrick Mung Mung from Warnum in the East Kimberley.
Chosen from an exceptional field of finalists, Mr Mung Mung’s artwork titled Purnululu was named the winner in the tightly contested competition.
Bankwest Managing Director, Rob De Luca presented the $30,000 winner’s cheque to Mr Mung Mung’s Perth gallery representative, Seva Frangos, at the opening of the exhibition; the first official exhibition to go on display at the new Bankwest Art Gallery.
Mr De Luca said he was very impressed by the quality of the submissions for the 2012 Bankwest Contemporary Art Prize.
“We’re delighted to support talented Western Australian artists and the local arts sector in general, because a dynamic and creative arts sector is an important contributor to this great State.
“And we are now very fortunate to include Mr Mung Mung’s artwork titled Purnululu as part of the prestigious Bankwest Art Collection.”
The major Western Australian art prize and exhibition, one of the largest and most important art prizes in WA, was established more than a decade ago in 2001.
The judges – Carly Lane, Curator for the Second National Indigenous Art Triennial at the National Gallery of Australia; Sandra Murray, Art Curator for Bankwest; and Wayne Tunnecliffe, Head Curator of Australian Art at the Art Gallery of NSW – described the winning work as having a beautiful rhythm across the landscape featuring an extraordinary range of coloured ochres.
In particular, the judges noted the dynamic energy between the elements, being both in and of the landscape, and were impressed by the artist’s clever combination of perspective over Purnululu, the delightful rendering of trees and the cross- dimensional aspect of the piece.
“After much discussion and deliberation, Wayne, Carly and I agreed the work by Mr Mung Mung was the most deserving,” Ms Murray said. Mr Mung Mung is a senior artist at Warnum Art Centre and an elder at Warnum Community in the East Kimberley. His knowledge of his country and his cultural memory of family, land and work are powerfully linked in his work.
The general public are invited to participate and vote for their favourite artwork to win the People’s Choice Award worth $5,000, to be announced in mid-December. Votes can be cast either at the exhibition or online at www.bankwest.com.au/artprize.
2012 Bankwest Contemporary Art Prize Exhibition
Bankwest Art Gallery
Perth
November 15, 2012 to February 10, 2013
Patrick Mung Mung, Purnululu, 2012, natural ochre on linen, 150 x 150cm
Patrick at work in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia
