Published Friday, 03 August, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS ART AWARD ANNOUNCED: DEPUTY PREMIER
Friday 3 August 2007
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh today announced Genevieve Grieves is the winner of the national 2007 Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award.
Ms Bligh presented Ms Grieves, 31, of the Worimi people of the New South Wales mid-north coast, with the $30,000 prize at a special event held at Australia’s leading Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Brisbane.
“Genevieve is one of nine finalists whose work is among some of the most exciting and dynamic in emerging Indigenous art in Australia today,” Ms Bligh said.
“Her winning entry is a five-channel video installation titled Picturing the old people 2006-07 which the judging panel described as an ‘exquisite’ and ‘thoughtful exploration’ of the ways Aboriginal people were portrayed in the past,” she said.
“Now in its second year, the Xstrata Award plays an important role recognising and promoting talented emerging artists and it complements the Queensland Government’s efforts in growing the markets for Indigenous art around the world.
“It’s also great to see the work by this year’s finalists on public display in the Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award exhibition at GoMA from August 4 to November 11.
“The award’s major prize is also complemented by an additional $50,000 Xstrata Coal grant to the Queensland Art Gallery for the acquisition of works by Indigenous artists,” said Ms Bligh.
The Gallery collection traces the development of Indigenous art from the early 1970s to the present.
In her work, Ms Grieves has used 21st century electronic media to investigate 19th century photography.
The judging panel said: “Those photographs were in black and white or in sepia, but the difference here is that the Aboriginal people in Grieves’ portraits are alive, moving and quite clearly looking back at us in the present moment. The sensation for the viewer of looking into the past is extraordinary.”
Xstrata Coal Chief Executive Peter Coates said the company was proud to play an ongoing role in providing opportunities for Indigenous Australians and was pleased to continue its support of the Emerging Indigenous Art Award as part of its annual Community Social Involvement program.
The other 2007 Xstrata Award finalists were:
• Netta Loogatha (Mornington Island, Qld),
• Wanyubi Marika (Yirrkala, NT),
• Irenie Ngalinba (Maningrida, NT),
• Phyllis Ningarmara (Kununurra, WA),
• Christine Yukenbarri (Great Sandy Desert, WA),
• Abe Muriata (Tully/Murray Upper, Qld),
• Adam Hill (Sydney, NSW), and
• Yhonnie Scarce (Adelaide, SA).
This year’s selection committee members were: Destiny Deacon, artist; Julie Ewington, Head of Australian Art, QAG; Avril Quaill, Principal Project Officer, Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency; James Rickards, Communications Manager, Xstrata Coal; and (ex officio) Seva Frangos, Xstrata Coal art consultant.
Media Contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh today announced Genevieve Grieves is the winner of the national 2007 Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award.
Ms Bligh presented Ms Grieves, 31, of the Worimi people of the New South Wales mid-north coast, with the $30,000 prize at a special event held at Australia’s leading Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Brisbane.
“Genevieve is one of nine finalists whose work is among some of the most exciting and dynamic in emerging Indigenous art in Australia today,” Ms Bligh said.
“Her winning entry is a five-channel video installation titled Picturing the old people 2006-07 which the judging panel described as an ‘exquisite’ and ‘thoughtful exploration’ of the ways Aboriginal people were portrayed in the past,” she said.
“Now in its second year, the Xstrata Award plays an important role recognising and promoting talented emerging artists and it complements the Queensland Government’s efforts in growing the markets for Indigenous art around the world.
“It’s also great to see the work by this year’s finalists on public display in the Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award exhibition at GoMA from August 4 to November 11.
“The award’s major prize is also complemented by an additional $50,000 Xstrata Coal grant to the Queensland Art Gallery for the acquisition of works by Indigenous artists,” said Ms Bligh.
The Gallery collection traces the development of Indigenous art from the early 1970s to the present.
In her work, Ms Grieves has used 21st century electronic media to investigate 19th century photography.
The judging panel said: “Those photographs were in black and white or in sepia, but the difference here is that the Aboriginal people in Grieves’ portraits are alive, moving and quite clearly looking back at us in the present moment. The sensation for the viewer of looking into the past is extraordinary.”
Xstrata Coal Chief Executive Peter Coates said the company was proud to play an ongoing role in providing opportunities for Indigenous Australians and was pleased to continue its support of the Emerging Indigenous Art Award as part of its annual Community Social Involvement program.
The other 2007 Xstrata Award finalists were:
• Netta Loogatha (Mornington Island, Qld),
• Wanyubi Marika (Yirrkala, NT),
• Irenie Ngalinba (Maningrida, NT),
• Phyllis Ningarmara (Kununurra, WA),
• Christine Yukenbarri (Great Sandy Desert, WA),
• Abe Muriata (Tully/Murray Upper, Qld),
• Adam Hill (Sydney, NSW), and
• Yhonnie Scarce (Adelaide, SA).
This year’s selection committee members were: Destiny Deacon, artist; Julie Ewington, Head of Australian Art, QAG; Avril Quaill, Principal Project Officer, Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency; James Rickards, Communications Manager, Xstrata Coal; and (ex officio) Seva Frangos, Xstrata Coal art consultant.
Media Contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900