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2009 Mosman Art Prize

The Mosman Art Gallery presents the 62nd annual Mosman Art Prize, the longest running and most prestigious municipal art prize in Australia.

This year, the inaugural 1947 prize winner Margaret Olley AC has been the guest judge for the competition.

Over the 62 years since Margaret Olley won that prize, she has become one of the most eminent artists in Australia. Her painting New England Landscape was chosen as the Mosman Art Prize winner by renowned Australian artist Lloyd Rees.

The winning entries, along with an artist’s statement and the judge’s report, are listed below. In addition there will be a Viewer’s Choice Prize of $1,000 sponsored by Mosman Toyota, to be announced at the close of the exhibition.

Public Program

Meet the Artists
Sunday 16 August, 2pm
Meet winning artist Alexander Lavroff and Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize winner Suzanne Alexander for a talk about their winning entries and artistic practice. Free. Afternoon tea included.

Senior Art Lovers Morning Tea
Thursday 20 August, 10.30am – 12 noon
Free entertaining exhibition tour for Seniors presented by the Mosman Art Gallery guides. Bookings (02) 9978 4178.

Expressive Painting with Craig Waddell
Sunday 30 August, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Commendation Prize Winner Craig Waddell will take participants through an exploration of abstract to figurative painting using mixed media to create expressive drawings and paintings of objects, toys and images.
Cost: $100. All levels welcome. Bookings essential as places are limited – phone 9978 4178. For a materials list please contact the Gallery.

Winner, Mosman Art Prize

Alexander Lavroff – Amish bucket with capsicums in colander

Alexander Lavroff immigrated with his Russian family to Australia in the 1950s. In Australia he studied at the East Sydney Technical College (now the National Art School) and later at the Royal Art Society at North Sydney. Alexander managed a large Neutral Bay advertising studio where he specialised in illustration.

Artist’s Statement

After my career as an airbrush illustrator for the advertising industry and wanting to diversify, I entered into the realm of Tonal Impressionism. My teacher at that time was Graham Inson, whose teacher was Max Meldrum who also taught Clarice Beckett. I guess that’s where my passion for ‘still life’ started. I continued painting still life but to a more highly finished level which meant it would take much longer to execute a painting. Therefore I would put the subject matter together and sketch from various angles and outline it on the canvas. As my paintings are highly finished it means I sometimes have to paint longer hours – into the night if need be.

Margaret Olley – Judge’s Report

When I entered the room I thought I had a big job ahead – but you can’t know until you have seen them all – the last lot you are looking at might be the best – so it’s a surprise looking at every painting. I enjoy it I really do – If I’m a judge, I’m seeing every one.

I was looking for the best painting – it had to be an outstanding one. I was selecting what was in the exhibition when I came across ‘Amish bucket with capsicums in colander’ by Alexander Lavroff. I knew that it definitely had to be in and I liked it so much that I thought I might even buy it. It has that great Spanish quality like a Zubaran and it’s simple, but it has such strength with those three objects on the table cloth with that background – it’s very dramatic.

There were a lot of very interesting abstract paintings in the exhibition but for me – it comes down to humanity. You can have a very clever abstract but it doesn’t touch me although I have chosen one which has quite a lovely feeling through it all. I like to see some vigorous paint and it has to be stylish. The winner is painted in a very painterly manner – it might be traditional but it’s got an instant appeal.

Winner, Allan Gamble Memorial Art Prize for themed paintings of the ‘built environment’

Suzanne Alexander – Looking for Sydney, Cockatoo Island

Suzanne Alexander graduated from East Sydney Technical College (now the National Art School) in 1967 and has exhibited in the 2006 Salon des Refuses Wynne Prize selection, 2005 Australian Society of Marine Artists at the Mosman Art Gallery in 2005 and in 2004 won the North Sydney Art Prize.

Artist’s Statement

Over the past few years I have been drawing, painting and observing Cockatoo Island from different vantage points on the harbour.I usually study the subject matter for a number of weeks – perhaps sketching it day after day. It then becomes a rapid process and the work can be completed quite quickly.

The brushwork is very gestural and expressive. The paint application is quite thick and I often paint with my fingers to achieve the form of the objects. I like to think of the painting as an historical document – our working harbour is rapidly changing and it is wonderful to be able to record our maritime heritage.

Margaret Olley – Judge’s Report

I liked the strength about this painting. There is something very strong and appealing about abandoned places of industry and I know myself that they are very interesting to work with. This painting is almost abstract and it has a great restraint of colour.

Winner, Commendation Prize

Craig Waddell – ‘Olley’ (The General)

Craig Waddell graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art from the National Art School in 1999 and a MFA (Printmaking) at the Chiang Mai University, Thailand 2004.He was a finalist in the Wynne Prize in 2005, the Archibald in 2006 and the Dobell Drawing Prize in 2007.

Artist’s Statement

By painting landscapes, roosters and tractors that are based on both life and memory I connect myself as an artist to the land that my family has worked for four generations.

During 2003-2004 I travelled to Thailand as an Australian Volunteer, taking up residency in a small village close to the Thai /Lao and Cambodian border. This gave me invaluable insights into the social hierarchies of village life, which were repeatedly dominated (for men) by the ritualised practice of cockfighting (hence the paintings of roosters). ‘Olley’ (The General) is a beloved rooster that rales the troops together loved by all, but feared by many. A strong and powerful cock that can look menacing at times.

Margaret Olley – Judge’s Report

I liked it from the start and set it aside because of the colour – the vigour – the way the paint is used. It’s a very intriguing painting and quite a brave subject to paint in this way, and I just love the paint quality and the colour.

Winner, House of Phillips Young Emerging Artists’ Award

Adelaide Slater – Passages

Adelaide Slater has completed a Certificate 3 in Textile Design and Printing at East Sydney / Ultimo TAFE and graduated from the National Art School with a Bachelor of Fine Art in 2008 where she majored in painting.

Artist’s Statement

The intention of using the varying façades of deteriorating buildings to create this composition ‘Passages’ is to take the eye through an architectural landscape, and find intrigue in the otherwise overlooked cracks and crevices of a decaying, haphazard and overpopulated existence. Removing people from the scene allows us to focus on the forms created through the passage of time.

Travel has played an integral and primary role in my art practice to date. The “favelas” of Brazil and the candy striped shop fronts in Vietnam provided a stimulus to explore different architectural spaces and pattern in intensely urbanized environment.

Margaret Olley – Judge’s Report

I chose ‘Passages’ by Adelaide Slater because it’s quite strong and it has great structural quality. It’s a complicated painting and I liked that structure and that mysterious passage leading up – it’s very well designed.

Slideshow

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