 Nexus (2015) Acrylic on wooden panel, 1800 x1200mm, Selected Finalist in the 2015 National Contemporary Art awards YES! Won't pretend I'm not thrilled, I am! Second year in a row as a finalist in the most prestigious National Contemporary Art Award in the country - why the most prestigious? Well it's really competitive, and at the gorgeous Waikato Museum for a start and it's there for over 3 months. The space and physical position my work was given last year, in the same award, took my breath away; the show looked fantastic. The opening had delicious food and wine, great speeches and a real buzz. The snapshot of contemporary art is a great insight into what's happening in NZ at a given point in time. I love how it's so subjective and all left to one person. It's like lotto in terms of who wins, not the best necessarily, just what the judge happened to like. This years judge, Aaron Kreisler, is a respected curator and he had to blind judge the entries, although he is bound to have recognised a lot of the work. When I look at the list of 52 finalists, from the 352 that entered, I know only a handful which means that most are young and emerging artists and it's great to be selected to be amongst them. Last year very little of the work was actually painting, perhaps 7 paintings out of 50 finalists, and I expect this year will be the same. Painting struggles to be as hip as multimedia or sculpture or any kind of high tech installation in the contemporary art world. It has its limitations (which I love) but does look quite frumpy sometimes next to sleek screens, moving and aural technological processes. Mind you my process is a highly technological process, if you consider technology means, art, skill, and cunning of hand (Wiki). Winners in the past have been: a pile of rubbish, a bush shelter, a photo of a soap dish, and last year a florescent tube balanced on a shelf, that shattered during the opening. All conceptually challenging and controversial work. Watch this space. ********************************* Finalists Announced for National Contemporary Art Award National Contemporary art award judge Aaron Kreisler has selected 52 entries as finalists for this year’s National Contemporary Art Award hosted by Waikato Museum. Faced with a record number of entries this year, Aaron Kreisler met the challenge, selecting the 52 finalists through a blind judging process. "It is always exciting to get an opportunity to discover the rich layers and diversity of talent present in this bustling little country and the National Contemporary Art Award provides this in overwhelming abundance." Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham says the National Contemporary Art Award promises artists a chance to win an art award of national significance and their work to be seen in a professionally managed gallery. “The National Contemporary Art Award exhibition is always a highlight on our arts calendar and we’re preparing for a full and very vibrant gallery experience this year. As well as the exposure it gives to these New Zealand artists, all works are for sale, giving visitors the opportunity to view and purchase the finalists’ artworks.” The winner and merit award winners of the National Contemporary Art Award will be announced on Friday 17 July. The exhibition will open from Saturday 18 July until Sunday 1 November 2015. The winner of the 2015 National Contemporary Art Award will receive S15,000 from the major joint sponsors, Chow:Hill and Tompkins Wake. For more information, follow the award on Facebook or visit waikatomuseum.co.nz
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