Dobell Drawing Prize #21
EXHIBITION DATES: Thursday 28 March — Saturday 25 May 2019
OPENING HOURS: Monday–Saturday, 11am–5pm
Congratulations to Justine Varga who has won the Dobell Drawing Prize #21!
Comments from the Judge’s: “Drawing is a fundamental part of many visual art practices. The winner of the Dobell Drawing Prize #21 uses drawing in the most meaningful and sophisticated way. Her work is a distillation of so many components of our collective lives. Drawing plays a pivotal role in this artist’s exploration of us all. The winning work is a powerful, playful and sophisticated 21st century drawing and a deserved winner.”
Congratulations also to Tony Albert who was highly commended, “Highly commended goes to an artist who is relentlessly and skilfully re-writing dialogues about Australian histories. Drawing underpins his practice. Old Sins Cast Long Shadows uses the most simple drawing techniques to tell a formidably sophisticated story.”
The Dobell Drawing Prize is a new biennial prize and exhibition presented by the National Art School in association with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation. The Prize is an open call to all artists and aims to explore the enduring importance of drawing and the breadth and dynamism of contemporary approaches to drawing.
The exhibition showcases the finalists’ artworks across a broad range of media that acknowledges the foundational principals of drawing, while also encouraging challenging and expansive approaches to drawing. Submissions are invited for artworks on paper, but may also include wall drawings and larger-scale works and works utilising electronic media.
National Art School envisions the Prize as a platform for the celebration and examination of current drawing practices. The Prize builds on the energy of both emerging artists who make art through drawing, while also celebrating innovation and technical skill of experienced artists.
A drawing symposium, workshops and a range of artist talks will be held in conjunction with the Prize and exhibition, positioning the National Art School and Sydney at the core of contemporary drawing, research and the exploration of ideas. Drawing continues to be central to the National Art School’s curriculum, and the opportunity to present and reflect the many facets of contemporary drawing offers artists another forum to explore the dynamic medium of drawing.
The new Dobell Drawing Prize is an acquisitive art award that runs in alternative years to the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, affirming the Dobell Foundation’s commitment to continuing the development of drawing as a medium in its own right, and a fundamental element of the visual arts.
Image: Justine Varga with NAS Director and CEO Steven Alderton
2019 FINALISTS:
Badra Aji – VIC
Tony Albert – NSW
Leonie Andrews – ACT
Suzanne Archer – NSW
Martin Bell – VIC
M. Bozzec – NSW
Michelle Caithness – VIC
Kristone Capistrano – NSW
Tom Carment – NSW
Tanya Chaitow – NSW
Ari Chand – NSW
Joshua Charadia – NSW
Matthew Clarke – VIC
Penny Coss – WA
Maryanne Coutts – NSW
Fiona Currey-Billyard – NSW
Dagmar Cyrulla – VIC
Madeleine Joy Dawes – VIC
Amy Dynan – NSW
Helen Eager – NSW
Yvonne East – NSW
Stephanie Eather – VIC
David Fairbairn – NSW
George Gittoes – NSW
Richard Goodwin – NSW
Kendal Heyes – NSW
Mark Hislop – VIC
Daniel Hollier – NSW
Pollyxenia Joannou – NSW
Alan Jones – NSW
Locust Jones – NSW
Alex Karaconji – NSW
Sonia Kurarra – WA
Hyun Hee Lee – NSW
Brooke Leigh – NSW
Ruark Lewis – NSW
Tanya Linney – NSW
Lily Mae Martin – VIC
Jonathan McBurnie – QLD
Noel McKenna – NSW
Peta Minnici – NSW
Damian Moss – NSW
Wendy Murray – NSW
Angus Nivison – NSW
Chris O’Doherty (aka Reg Mombassa) – NSW
Catherine O’Donnell – NSW
Toshiko Oiyama – NSW
Jenny Orchard – NSW
Becc Ország – VIC
Kerrie Poliness – VIC
Monica Rohan – QLD
Wendy Sharpe – NSW
Peter Solness – NSW
Kim Spooner – NSW
Luke Thurgate – SA
Justine Varga – NSW
Mirra Whale – NSW
