Congratulations to the winners of this annual series of major awards in drawing, watercolour, and ceramics.
The Rick Amor Drawing Award 2021 goes to David Fenoglio for his drawing Material Landscape (2021). The $20,000 prize was judged by renowned Australian artist John Wolseley, with the winning work chosen from 17 works shortlisted by artists Rick Amor and Paul Boston, with McClelland’s Director Lisa Byrne.
David Fenoglio, Material Landscape
Wolseley described Material landscape as a powerful and beautiful drawing with skillful and evocative use of the charcoal medium: ‘This drawing of creased and folded cloth resting on a table evoking a mountain landscape reminds me of some of the theories of the geographer Jay Appleton in his book The Experience of Landscape. Appleton suggests that ‘prospect, refuge and hazard’ are the three main responses which those walking over the land often experience. We are pulled up to the tops of hill where we can scan the valley below for potential enemies, or we are attracted to caves or enclosed spaces where we can seek refuge, or we can be attracted to rocky or wild bits of country in some kind of romantic sublime urge towards danger. I see all these qualities in this poetic and expressive drawing.’
The Splash Contemporary Watercolour Award has been won by three artists: Andrew Seward, Gregory Prior, and Joseph Anatolius.
Twenty-eight works were selected for the exhibition by a panel comprising Lisa Byrne, Director, McClelland; John Young; Artist and Trustee, McClelland; Lisa Waup, Artist; and Simon Lawrie, Curator, McClelland.
Three acquisitive awards of $10,000 for original works in watercolour were judged by Kirsty Grant, Freelance Curator and Writer; Melissa Keys, Senior Curator, Heide Museum of Modern Art; and Sim Luttin, Curator and Gallery Manager, Arts Project Australia.
Grant said the winning works reflected a diversity of approaches to the medium that was very exciting to see.
‘The three works utilise the particular qualities of watercolour to express ideas.
‘Andrew Seward’s Mulberry, Summer, a leporello, or concertina artist book, that extends to two and a half meters when fully opened, is based on his observation of a mulberry tree. Eschewing the traditional elements of observational drawing, such as line, tone and scale, this work becomes a joyous meditation on colour, inherently abstract and yet rich with symbolic associations.
‘Success Hill (Repair) by Gregory Pryor focuses on an area of Whadjuk Booja, a section of the Swan River (Derbal Yerrigan) near Bassendean in Perth. While it depicts a recognisable landscape subject, it is moody and mysterious. Using the fluid, unpredictable nature of watercolour, the work draws the viewer in, ultimately asking more questions than it provides answers.
‘Work #3 (Arrangement) by Joseph Anatolius stood out for its graphic precision and meticulous draughtsmanship. Without colour or extraneous detail, it focuses our attention on the objects depicted which are familiar, and yet in this context, also somewhat surreal,’ Grant said.
Andrew Seward, Mulberry Summer
The Mary & Lou Senini Student Art Award – Ceramics goes to Saskia Muecke for her work Untitled #2: Studies in nature series (2021).
The $3,000 Award is presented annually to a Victorian tertiary art student who, in the opinion of the selection panel, is of outstanding ability and promise. The Award was judged by McClelland’s Director, Lisa Byrne and Curator, Simon Lawrie.
The award funds have been generously provided by the Fornari Bequest, artist Rick Amor, and Mary and Lou Senini.
Byrne said the exhibition represents an excellent opportunity to review the best of what’s happening right now in the fields of drawing, watercolour and ceramics across Australia.
‘This is an important snapshot of contemporary practice, and a wonderful opportunity to support artists who we know have been doing it hard during lockdown.
‘The 2020-21 lockdown appears to have stimulated regular artistic practice, with many artists portraying intensely internalised subject matter reflective of this period of restricted lifestyle,’ Byrne said.
Curator Simon Lawrie notes the exhibition helps us see important aspects in a new light: ‘Drawing and watercolour have traditionally been used for preparatory sketches and studies ahead of finished paintings or sculptures. These Awards demonstrate the vibrancy of drawing and watercolour practice as exciting media in their own right, full of invention and experimentation.’
All winners and finalists’ works are on view at McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery in Victoria from 10 November 2021 to 6 February 2022.
