The Lester Prize Main Awards exhibition was held at The Art Gallery of Western Australia from 16 October to 29 November 2021.
Sidney Tapia, Through you
Judges’ comments provided by Clothilde Bullen, Alan R Dodge AM and Ian Strange:
This work ‘Through you’ was the standout portrait. The use of scale and tight composition was supported by the pristine surface, focus of the artist and the subject’s character shines through. The rendering of the subject is incredibly sensitive and reveals the compassion of the artist towards the subject.
Narelle Zeller, Brave new worker
Judges’ comments provided by Clothilde Bullen, Alan R Dodge AM and Ian Strange:
Capturing a moment in time, and a key period of our recent history, the judges felt this work captured the resilience of humans in a pandemic. The judges felt this was a charming work with impeccable technique.
Sally Ryan, Never again
Artist statement:
Born in Prague 1927, Edith Sheldon is a holocaust survivor whose teenage years were spent in a ‘transit camp’ in Theresienstadt. She is seated in front of a painted scene of Prague. The two books contain the names of all the Czechoslovakian Jews who were in Theresienstadt, listing survivors as well as those who died. Her story, which eventually brought her to Australia in 1949, is one of courage, sadness and enormous resilience. Edith is a strong, determined woman who, at 94, is still driving and playing bridge. Her positive attitude, despite such traumatic life experiences, is inspiring.
Emily Song, 饺子 (Dumplings)
Judges’ comments provided by Clothilde Bullen, Alan R Dodge AM and Ian Strange:
Dumplings is an extraordinary pen on paper work that speaks to culture, family, courage and the importance of building and sharing tradition. In both the work’s medium and subject matter, the execution belies its complexity. Emily tells her mother’s story with exquisite technicality including clever use of negative space. With a deft hand, Dumplings strongly demonstrates all three values celebrated by the Minderoo Foundation Spirit Prize.plings
Illyampi Victor Burton, Mamu
Judges’ comments provided by Clothilde Bullen, Alan R Dodge AM and Ian Strange:
We were drawn to the energy of this work – its magnetism and power. Confident, gestural strokes reveal the character of a subject that is not necessarily human, but embodies human characteristics. We were also wanting to encourage the notion that not all emerging artists were of a particular age.
Desiree Crossing, The night commute
Artist statement:
This work documents a familiar tale—the long, dark commute home, the sense of disconnect between those we travel with and a pervasive feeling of entrapment—an unspoken covenant of this modern lifestyle we live.
Sophia Alone (WA) • Jordan Andreotta (WA) • Sarah Anthony (VIC)• Adoni Astrinakis (VIC) • Elizabeth Barden (QLD) • Nathan Betts (VIC)• Illyampi Victor Burton (WA) • Stirling Caiulo (VIC) • Melissa Clements (WA) • Desiree Crossing (WA) • Martie Curtis (WA) • David Darcy (NSW) • Jenny Davies (WA) • Gene Hart-Smith (NSW) • Ben Howe (VIC) • Amelia Jajko (WA) • Anne McCaughey (WA) • Anne Middleton (VIC) • Elizabeth Nelson (VIC) • Liam Nunan (NSW) • Nathan Paddison (NSW) • Raeleen Pfeiffer (NSW) • Evert Ploeg (NSW) • Joel Rea (QLD) • Stacey Rees (VIC) • Cameron Richards (WA) • Jordan Richardson (NSW) • Sally Ryan (NSW) • Emily Song (WA) • James Stickland (QLD) • Jill Talbot (NSW) • Sidney Tapia (NSW) • Seabastion Toast (NSW) • Jim van Geet (VIC) • Jana Vodesil-Baruffi (WA) • Eugene von Nagy (VIC) • Brooke Walker (SA) • Renee Wilson (QLD) • Christine Wrest-Smith (VIC) • Narelle Zeller (ACT)
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