After more than 550 entries into the 2016 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize were made, gallery director Jason Smith (alongside Victoria Lynn, Director, TarraWarra Museum of Art, and Lisa Sullivan, Curator, Geelong Gallery) faced the difficult task of choosing the final 33 to be exhibited and the sole recipient of the overall prize – totalling $30,000.
“It’s like picking your favourite child,” Smith jests of picking the winner. And while he admits there were differences between the judges’ favourites, the prize recipient was crowned on September 9 as Melbourne artist Kate Beynon for her piece ‘Graveyard scene/the beauty and sadness of bones’.
The winning artwork features a red robed woman surrounded by skeletons and various other objects, all helping to re-interpret the Chinese ghost tale of An-Li. It’s a complex scene that for many onlookers could take on different meanings.
“I’m not one for reading artist statements,” Smith admits. Also adding that he didn’t initially read Beynon’s statement when first viewing the piece. “[Ultimately], what’s the work that you want to keep looking at and why do you want to keep looking at it? These are some of the questions we ask ourselves; what keeps drawing us back. And I’m not into pretty pictures. I’m into uneasy pictures where I don’t understand entirely with what’s going on.”
With an unusual colour palette and layered story, Beynon’s piece is a fine example of what Smith speaks on – and there are many others throughout the exhibition.
While there can only be one winner, of the final 33 chosen for the exhibition, Smith is proud of the diversity and talent on display. From the intriguing work of Hector Tjupuru Burton, the unusual technique exhibited by Huseyin Sami and the clever words of Peter Hill, there’s something for all level of art appreciators to admire.
“It’s great to be able to support artists and support great contemporary painting,” he says. “One of the things we’re really pleased about is there are a number of young painters that we’ve never heard of before: Donna Lougher, Brad Rusbridge and many others.”
As for Smith, who recently commenced his directorial position in May, it’s a chance for him to enjoy in one of his specialities and loves; contemporary art. With his recent appointment, he’s also welcomed into a gallery which has one of the most celebrated 19th and 20th Century collections in Victoria.
“I’d thought about Geelong for a number of years and when the opportunity came up I thought it was too good to pass up. The seed had been planted in my mind by a friend at a party a few years ago: ‘If there was ever a position at Geelong would I be interested?’” Smith says.
Listing plans to further develop audience connection, smooth the balance between the historic and the contemporary works and the upcoming Archibald Prize (scheduled for October 2017), Smith adds confidently, “I’m here for the long haul now.”
When & Where: The 2016 Geelong Contemporary Prize is on display at Geelong Gallery until November 13.
Written by Amanda Sherring
