Susanna Castleden wins 2013 Bankwest Art Prize

Chosen from an exceptional field of 19 Western Australian finalists, Susanna Castleden’s artwork, titled Camping Continuum (Indian Ocean Drive WA), was announced the winner at the opening of the 2013 Bankwest Art Prize exhibition on Tues November 26.

Bankwest Managing Director, Rob De Luca presented the $30,000 winner’s prize to Castleden and said he was impressed with the quality of this year’s submissions.

“This exhibition and our growing art collection showcase the excellent standard of artwork in Western Australia and reinforce Bankwest’s commitment to supporting the Western Australian arts community. We’re now very fortunate to include Susanna’s artwork, Camping Continuum (Indian Ocean Drive WA), in the Bankwest Art Collection,” De Luca said.

The works of the 2013 finalists form a public exhibition now on display at the Bankwest Art Gallery at the iconic institution’s headquarters, Bankwest Place, in Perth. The exhibition is open to the public until 3 March 2014.

The major Western Australian art prize and exhibition was established in 2001 and is considered the State’s most prestigious prize awarded exclusively to WA artists.

This year’s judges – Kelly Gellatly, Director, Ian Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne; Paul Thompson, Executive Director, Art on the Move; and Sandra Murray, Art Curator for Bankwest – described the winning work as “the quintessential experience of Australian childhood; camping and caravanning” with a “nostalgic palette harking back to the 1950s lino colours”.

Castleden said her entry was inspired by the ideas and objects of travel.

“Following the tracks of migratory travelers heading north for the winter, this work emerged from a journey that was punctuated by short pauses at designated tourist lookouts on the newly opened Indian Ocean Drive,” she said.

The general public is invited to vote for their favourite artwork to win the $5,000 People’s Choice Award either in person when visiting the exhibition, or via www.bankwest.com.au/artprize. The People’s Choice Award winner will be announced on 17 February, 2014.

Bankwest Art Gallery
Until 3 March, 2014
Perth

 

Susanna Castleden, Camping Continuum (Indian Ocean Drive WA),  2013, acrylic paint and stencil on vinyl and wood camping tables

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