King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is delighted to announce the People's Choice Winner of the inaugural King & Wood Mallesons Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Art Prize:
KWM People's Choice Award valued at $2,000:
- Tony Albert, Weight of the World
The piece received the highest number of votes from members of the public throughout the exhibition period.
The judging panel for the KWM Contemporary ATSI Art Prize said that the artwork was beautiful, wistful and destabilising.
"Tony's work is meticulously detailed, referencing the romanticised views of Aboriginal cultural narratives through pop cultural iconography, poignantly crafted and reframed through a global lens."
Earlier this month KWM announced the winners of the inaugural KWM Contemporary Art Prize, who were chosen by highly accomplished Exhibition Patron and curator, writer and artist Djon Mundine OAM, and esteemed judging panel comprised of artist Vernon Ah Kee and curators Sharni Jones and Cara Pinchbeck. Winners included:
- Teena McCarthy, Kopi in the Mourning
NSW Local Artists Award valued at $5,000:
- Amala Groom and Nicole Monks, Reframed
Highly Commended:
- John Prince Siddon, Dead Babies
- Ngarralja Tommy May, Yangkunja Hill.
An exhibition of the winning pieces as well as the works of the other 28 finalists will be held from September 5 – 27 in the Fountain Court of the Parliament of New South Wales, including the Reconciliation Wall.
The Contemporary ATSI Art Prize was launched in May this year to celebrate the outstanding contribution Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists make to Australian culture.
It is intended to be a biennial competition held over at least 6 years and will be exhibited in a different Australian capital city on each occasion.
KWM Chief Executive Partner Berkeley Cox said the firm was thrilled with the positive response from the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander art community, as well as the broader community's interest in the art and the exhibition.
"Organising and sponsoring the Contemporary ATSI Art Prize is one of the many ways in which KWM is acting on our commitment to achieve meaningful reconciliation and empowerment and we hope it has created a meaningful platform to showcase and celebrate the outstanding contribution Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artists continue to make to Australian society."
