From Carrie Miller…
The contemporary art world has enough prizes for artists who don’t win them to be resentful for a lifetime. Often they bring out the mediocre in everyone involved, especially the judges. One of the more interesting prizes in Australian and New Zealand art is the The Redlands Prize (RKMAP), distinguished by its structure: artists are nominated by a guest curator – this year it was the highly regarded Julie Rrap – these established artists are then asked to nominate an emerging artist to exhibit alongside them. The judges consist of two representatives from Redlands, two independent experts, and the National Art School Curator then awards the prizes.
The reasoning behind the unique prize is to facilitate dialogue and mentoring between generations of artists. Julie Rrap has chosen twenty one of them, including Tony Clark, David Haines, Joyce Hinterding, Deborah Kelly, TV Moore, and Callum Morton. These artists in turn chose some outstanding younger artists including Emma Borland, Michaela Gleave, Vicky Browne, Cigdem Aydemir, James Kerr, and Andrew Verano.
The winner of this year’ emerging artist award is Cigdem Aydemir. Aydemir, chosen by leading feminist artist Deborah Kelly, is a Sydney based Australian artist of Turkish Muslim heritage,who has been attracting critical notice for her works about our relationship to the Burqa which often intervene in public spaces. The established artist award went to Callum Morton.
Until June 1
National Art School Gallery, Darlinghurst
Pic: TV Moore, MOON PLANK STILL LIFE. C Type print, 180 x 220 cm, Courtesy of the Artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney, and KALIMANRAWLINS Gallery, Melbourne.
