Piercing the veil
A new exhibition at Buxton Contemporary finds a rich complexity in the shadowy terrain between life and death.
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Installation view: Ramsay Art Prize 2019 featuring Close Contactby Vincent Namatijira and Community Participatory Embroidery by Liam Benson, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Grant Hancock.
Vincent Namatjira, courtesy of Iwantja Arts, Photographer: Jackson Lee.
Vincent Namatjira, Western Arrernte people, Northern Territory, born 1983, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Close Contact, 2018, Indulkana, South Australia, synthetic polymer paint on plywood (two panels), 62.0 x 188.0 cm (each); Courtesy the artist, Iwantja Arts and THIS IS NO FANTASY + Dianne Tanzer Gallery.
Vincent Namatjira, Western Arrernte people, Northern Territory, born 1983, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Close Contact, 2018, Indulkana, South Australia, synthetic polymer paint on plywood (two panels), 62.0 x 188.0 cm (each); Courtesy the artist, Iwantja Arts and THIS IS NO FANTASY + Dianne Tanzer Gallery.
Julia Deville, Australia, born 1982, Mother is my Monarch, 2018, Melbourne, baby giraffe, my last breath, 18ct gold, 18ct white gold, sterling silver, bronze, gold plate, black rhodium plate, Akoya pearls, freshwater pearls, rose cut diamonds 6.05ct, rose cut black diamonds 0.67ct, uncut diamond granules 150ct, setting from ex-husbands engagement ring (18ct white gold, rose cut diamonds 0.33ct) Case made by Kate Rohde: Resin, Perspex, wood, steel; Courtesy the artist, Sophie Gannon Gallery and Jan Murphy Gallery. Finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize, 2019.
Liam Benson, Community Participatory Embroidery, Thoughts and Prayers, 2015-2018, Parramatta, New South Wales, glass and acrylic seed beads, bugle beads, sequins, cotton, tulle, 280.0 x 300.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Artereal Gallery. Finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize, 2019.
Tarryn Gill, Australia, born 1981, Tricksters, 2018, Perth, EPE foam, LED lights (coded by Steve Berrick), hand-sewn synthetic fabrics, rabbit fur, threads, sequins, glitter, synthetic hair, hand carved wood, nylon and leather gloves, 260.0 x 490.0 x 30.0 cm; Courtesy the artist. Finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize, 2019.
Hayley Millar-Baker, Gunditjmara people, Victoria, born 1990, Werribee, Victoria, A Series of Unwarranted Events, 2018, Sunshine, Victoria, inkjet print on paper, 100.0 x 80.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Vivien Anderson Gallery. Finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize, 2019.
Pierre Mukeba, Democratic Republic of Congo/Australia, born 1995, Ride to church, 2018, Adelaide, brush pen, synthetic polymer paint and applique on canvas, 320.0 x 424.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and GAGPROJECTS | Greenaway Art Gallery. Finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize, 2019.
Sera Waters, Australia, born 1979, Falling Line by Line, 2018, Adelaide, vinyl wallpaper (adhesive backed and removeable), woollen long-stitches, 200.0 x 700.0 cm; Courtesy of the artist and Hugo Michell Gallery, photo: Robert Frith. Finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize, 2019.
The Ramsay Art Prize, awarded every two years to an Australian artist under the age of 40, is one of the country’s richest. The winning artist, working in any medium, receives $100,000 and the selected work is acquired by the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Named after Diana and James Ramsay, longtime AGSA donors and supporters of contemporary Australian artists, this year marks its second iteration. “The Prize is a significant contribution to [the winning] artist – and respects that artist’s practice to date. Because it’s such a significant prize in monetary terms, it really is something that can make a large difference to an artist’s career,” says Rhana Devenport, AGSA director. As one of the judges for the 2017 Prize, Devenport knows the ins-and-outs of the selection process intimately. Hundreds of artists apply – Devenport says she loves the democracy of the prize – which makes it both interesting and challenging for the judging panel. The finalists’ works will be on display at AGSA for three months.
On the panel this year are Dr Lisa Slade, assistant director, AGSA; artist Richard Lewer; and Russell Storer, deputy director, National Gallery Singapore. Devenport says there were many high-calibre works that could have won the inaugural award – which was ultimately awarded to Sarah Contos for her work, Sarah Contos Presents: The Long Kiss Goodbye – and the standard is just as high this time around
Aside from the opportunity to support and further an artist’s career, the prize is an exciting avenue for collection expansion, Devenport says.
“There is a critical selection that takes place, but finally it’s a collaborative decision and it’s such a rigorous process – days and days and days of debate and very rigorous discussion. And I think that level of conviction is great to have in the mix of the selection process,” she adds.
This year, the winner of the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize is artist Vincent Namatjira, for his double-sided portrait work titled: Close Contact, 2018.
Ramsay Art Prize
Art Gallery of South Australia
25 May – 25 August
A new exhibition at Buxton Contemporary finds a rich complexity in the shadowy terrain between life and death.
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