Brisbane, QLD


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

I HEART ART


When I was in Sydney last week we visited the New South Wales Art Gallery to view the finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Art Prizes. The Archibald Art Prize is Australia's favourite and most prestigious art prize. There were 884 participants and a $5000 prize.


The Archibald prize is for the best portrait.
The winner was Fiona Lowry's portrait of Penelope Seidler a well known architect. It was an unusual technique, a misty monochrome.

My favourite was Andrew Mezei's Morpheus, a portrait of Professor Kate Leslie a well known anaesthetist, who has won awards in medicine. Her research is to do with dreams and awareness under anaesthetic. Thus the title, Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams and sleep. Mezei also included opium poppies. I love how Mezei has shown the light.

The Wynne prize is for the best Australian landscape or sculpture.
 Michael Johnson won with this piece called 'Oceania high low.'

 My favourite was Max Mannix's "Where I'd Like to be."

The Sulman Prize is for the best subject painting.
 The winner was Andrew Sullivan with T-Rex. (I didn't like it at all)

But I was attracted to this one "The Archer" by Michael Peck maybe because it reminded me of my Grandson who has just discovered archery.

After our stroll around the gallery we had lunch with our daughter and SIL at the gallery cafe and then returned to their apartment overlooking the sea.

24 comments:

  1. What a lovely post about beautiful paintings. You always describe things so well, Diane. I also loved the portrait in soft metallic colors and the one of the award-winning anesthetist. Your blog is always so interesting. I love it!

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  2. Oh yes, I forgot they lived in a place on the North Shore with views. While I had seen the winning Archibald, I had not seen the others, so thanks for showing us.

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  3. Of course, I don't know what the criteria for the official judges' choices were, but I like your choices better! It's fun for me fo see what modern Australian artists are painting.

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  4. I enjoyed looking at your photos. It's great to see some of the paintings. They are neat :)

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  5. I have been looking forward to this post. I haven't been to see the Archibald but it was interesting to see your selections. Julie posted hers some time ago.

    That winner for the Wynn prize is not to my taste at all.

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  6. I heart that you shared those art pieces with us. I too was taken by them all for different reasons and of course the view of the sea - made me sigh.

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  7. if i were choosing the winner from all these the archer would be my pick...that is a lot of entries...

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  8. What a wonderful place to explore and one which would take me hours to see all.

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  9. I like art but there is a lot I don't like because it looks weird just saying.........

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  10. What a gorgeous collection of all kinds of different art work. Since I am not an 'art' person ---I don't appreciate all of the 'modern' or 'different' kind of art... I liked the same one that you liked--the portrait of Professor Kate Leslie... That is gorgeous.

    I'm sure you had a great visit with your kids... I wish them the best on their trip.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  11. Those prizes got many beautiful entries. I have to agree with you about the painting of 'The Archer'. I think it's beautiful as well.

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  12. The portraits were excellent. As for the landscape I think I prefer your photo.

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  13. I think the view from Carol and David's Apartment was the best.
    True blue Aussie - the sea!
    Colin

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  14. Diane, many thanks for the trip to the gallery, it was marvellous.
    I agree with Jo, your posts are always interesting with beautiful images!

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  15. Thank you Jo and Rose for your compliment. It does give me incentive to keep on going. Your blogs are interesting too.

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  16. Thank you for allowing me to vicariously enjoy this art gallery visit. The additional iformation about the Morpheus one was very interesting.

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  17. My favorite art was the one you liked...best pic is outside your daughters view! Beautiful

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  18. Must be a very interesting Museum !

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  19. I love the Gallery of New South Wales. David and I go their at least once or twice a month. I really enjoyed experiencing the Archibald Prize with you both. And wasn't the Young Archie good too? Some of those kids have really got skills! X

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  20. Beautiful -- it's fabulous that they allow photography and yours is amazing ... made me feel as if I were there.

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  21. That expression 'art is in the eye of the beholder' is so true.. I think i am inclined to go along with your choices Diane.

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  22. Your favorite portrait of Professor Leslie is stunning. Those colors and the light and the whole composition are truly wonderful.

    T-Rex is a little creepy.

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  23. Some very unusual artwork won, Diane! The portrait looked very ghostly and I also did not care for the T-Rex painting--kind of gruesome looking!

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