The annual John Fries Award for emerging artists has been won by Eric Demetriou. The Victorian artist took out the $10,000 prize with his installation work, An Afternoon with Herb Jercher, which was made with the assistance of the eponymous sound artist.
Oliver Watts, curator of the award exhibition and one of five judges of the 2016 prize, said of the winning work, “This exciting and strong work seems to reference the drover through the sounds and effects of lashing whips. Its duality is what makes it appealing, as the sound of the whip evokes the Man from Snowy River, but it’s mediated through pop culture, art and technical recording devices.”
Jessie Bullivant was highly commended for her video, In the Event of Winning, an acceptance speech which no one was allowed to watch unless she won.
Works by all 14 finalists, selected from 1000 entries, are showcased in the John Fries Award Exhibition.
The Copyright Agency | Viscopy John Fries Award is sponsored by Fries family in memory of former Viscopy director and honorary treasurer, John Fries.
John Fries Award Exhibition
UNSW Galleries
19 August – 1 October
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