From 487 entries received from artists across Australia, the four winning pieces of the Sunshine Coast Art Prize have been revealed.
The Major Winner and recipient of a $25,000 cash prize was Judith Nangala Crispin with Jenni, in spirit form, watches the first UFOs appear above the West MacDonnell Ranges.
As a little guinea fowl took her final breath under a blanket of shooting stars, little did she know she was about to become a star herself.
Jenni, as the bird was named, lives on, immortalised as the subject of the artwork.
This is thanks to techniques developed by Crispin for creating stunning afterlife portraits.
Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Caloundra Regional Gallery manager and curator Jo Duke said the unique and vibrant piece Crispin presented was a worthy winner.
“The techniques used to create this artwork, the composition and the vibrancy of colour, make for a truly special piece,” she said.
“The artist invented a technique using a layering practice like lumen printing, cliche-verre and chemigram, and uses decomposition chemistry for colour and detail.
“Crispin’s work honours the animals and birds she finds – a practice that has evolved from her heritage as a Bpangerang descendent and her Warlpiri friends.”
The People’s Choice award went to Sebastian Toast for her work Paddle pool. She receives $2500.
Toast said she enjoyed playing with the element of time when constructing a painting, both in terms of nostalgia as well as how the painting is viewed.
“Various aspects reveal themselves at different speeds so that a painting unfolds more like a piece of music or a poem,” she said.
“In today’s fast-paced, ‘Insta-flickering’ world, taking the time to spend with a painting seems to be one of the most important things we can do.”
Related story: 2023 art prize winner will be in good company
Anna Carey claimed the $5000 Highly Commended award with her work You can bring your fantasies to earth.
Previous Archibald Prize winner Fiona Lowry won the Artist Residency for her work In the colour-blind night. She will take up a two-week residency.
All finalist artworks are available for purchase except for the winning work, which is now part of the Sunshine Coast Art Collection.
The Sunshine Coast Art Prize exhibition is on show at Caloundra Regional Gallery until October 15, with works and further details about the gallery available to view on the gallery website.
Like stories about Sunshine Coast people doing great things? Help us deliver more by registering for our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email at the bottom of this article.
