Published Friday, 11 July, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
2008 XSTRATA COAL INDIGENOUS ART AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED
Premier Anna Bligh today announced the winner of the national Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award for 2008.
Ms Bligh presented Gunybi Ganambarr, of the Ngaymil people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, with the $30,000 prize at a special event at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).
His winning entry - Burrut’tji at Baraltja 2008 – will now become part of the Queensland Art Gallery’s permanent collection.
“The work of Gunybi Ganambarr and the nine other award finalists is among some of the most exciting and dynamic emerging Indigenous art in Australia today,” Ms Bligh said.
“Gunybi’s work stood out to the selection committee because of its innovation within the longstanding tradition of painting on bark in north-east Arnhem Land.
“His contemporary approach to bark painting features many linear incisions in-filled with white pigment, resulting in a strong sense of movement,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the Award, now in its third and final year, had played an important role in recognising talented emerging artists.
“This Xstrata Award has unearthed a smorgasbord of Indigenous talent around the country,” Ms Bligh said.
“Some 28 Indigenous artists have been short-listed over the three years of the awards, and both the 2006 and 2007 winners – Jonathon Jones and Genevieve Grieves – have gone on to have very successful artistic careers.
“The award program has also complemented the Queensland Government’s efforts to expand the international market for Indigenous artists.
“In addition to the major prize, Xstrata Coal has also provided an additional $150,000 over three years to the Queensland Art Gallery for the acquisition of works by Indigenous artists for its collection.”
Work by this year’s finalists is on public display at GoMA from 11 July to 12 October.
The award’s selection committee consisted of – Brook Andrew, artist; Tony Ellwood, Director, Queensland Art Gallery; Helena Gulash, Director, Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency, Trade Queensland; James Rickards, Communications Manager, Xstrata Coal; and (ex officio) Seva Frangos, Xstrata Coal art consultant.
Other artists short-listed for the 2008 Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award and featured in the exhibition are – Milly Kelly (Jigalong/Newman,WA); Josie Kunoth Petyarre and Dinni Kunoth Kemarre (Utopia,NT); Beaver Lennon (Ceduna, SA); Loongkoonan (Derby, WA); Patsy Marfura (Peppimenarti, NT); Archie Moore (Brisbane, QLD); Glenn Pilkington (Perth, WA); and Daniel Walbidi (Bidyadanga, WA).
Friday, 11 July 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3840 7162 (Amelia Gundelach, GoMA)
Ms Bligh presented Gunybi Ganambarr, of the Ngaymil people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, with the $30,000 prize at a special event at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).
His winning entry - Burrut’tji at Baraltja 2008 – will now become part of the Queensland Art Gallery’s permanent collection.
“The work of Gunybi Ganambarr and the nine other award finalists is among some of the most exciting and dynamic emerging Indigenous art in Australia today,” Ms Bligh said.
“Gunybi’s work stood out to the selection committee because of its innovation within the longstanding tradition of painting on bark in north-east Arnhem Land.
“His contemporary approach to bark painting features many linear incisions in-filled with white pigment, resulting in a strong sense of movement,” she said.
Ms Bligh said the Award, now in its third and final year, had played an important role in recognising talented emerging artists.
“This Xstrata Award has unearthed a smorgasbord of Indigenous talent around the country,” Ms Bligh said.
“Some 28 Indigenous artists have been short-listed over the three years of the awards, and both the 2006 and 2007 winners – Jonathon Jones and Genevieve Grieves – have gone on to have very successful artistic careers.
“The award program has also complemented the Queensland Government’s efforts to expand the international market for Indigenous artists.
“In addition to the major prize, Xstrata Coal has also provided an additional $150,000 over three years to the Queensland Art Gallery for the acquisition of works by Indigenous artists for its collection.”
Work by this year’s finalists is on public display at GoMA from 11 July to 12 October.
The award’s selection committee consisted of – Brook Andrew, artist; Tony Ellwood, Director, Queensland Art Gallery; Helena Gulash, Director, Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency, Trade Queensland; James Rickards, Communications Manager, Xstrata Coal; and (ex officio) Seva Frangos, Xstrata Coal art consultant.
Other artists short-listed for the 2008 Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award and featured in the exhibition are – Milly Kelly (Jigalong/Newman,WA); Josie Kunoth Petyarre and Dinni Kunoth Kemarre (Utopia,NT); Beaver Lennon (Ceduna, SA); Loongkoonan (Derby, WA); Patsy Marfura (Peppimenarti, NT); Archie Moore (Brisbane, QLD); Glenn Pilkington (Perth, WA); and Daniel Walbidi (Bidyadanga, WA).
Friday, 11 July 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office) or 3840 7162 (Amelia Gundelach, GoMA)