Tim Johnson took out the $20,000 winning spot with his captivating acrylic on linen artwork, entitled Faraway. Represented by Tolarno Gallery, Johnson is known for creating paintings that combine images from Aboriginal Australia, Buddhism and Native America. His work often culminates in a dreamlike synthesis of the cultural and visual.
The honourable mention Parker’s Prize went to John Edwards for his oil on canvas work, Marking the Boundary. Edwards is represented by Kind Street Gallery in Sydney and is known for creating colourful mixed media works. He received a $500 voucher for Parker’s Sydney Fine Art Supplies.
The Highly commended Lucio’s Prize went to Savanhdary Vongpoothorn, for her acrylic on perforated canvas work Pathavi-voja. Vongpoothorn creates textured abstract work through puncturing and paint layering. She received a $250 voucher for Lucio’s Italian Restaurant in Paddington, Sydney.
Will French won the UNSW Cofa (College of Fine Arts) Prize with Hopetoun / No Hopetoun, a chalk pigment on painted board work. The Sydney-based artist creates playful, humours works traversing the traditional, mechanical and conceptual. This prize will give French the opportunity to create a limited edition print of his work.
The $20,000 acquisitive Paddington Art Prize was founded in 2004 by Marlene Antico. The prize views landscape interpretation as an important contemporary genre due to its long tradition within Australian painting and central contribution to national identity. All eligible works must be inspired by the Australian landscape.
The 2013 judging panel consisted of Professor Ross Harley, Dean of the College of Fine Arts UNSW, Del Kathryn Barton, artist, and John Firth Smith, artist. These judges were selected due to their outstanding work across a range of arts disciplines.
The Paddington Art Prize is one of the most lucrative and desirable in Australia. It is open to all Australian citizens over 18 and aims to help struggling artists to showcase their works by offering a significant monetary reward. It also aims to discover new artists who are able to create reflective and invigorating representations of Australia.
Exhibition dates:
Tuesday 24 September until Sunday 6 October 2013, 10-5pm Sunday 12-5pm.
For more information visit the Paddington Art Prize website.
Image: Faraway by Tim Johnson (detail)
