The Archibald Winner and more: showcasing Australian Indigenous Artists

We have yet another new subscriber to welcome to the AnArt4Life blog as PP in Melbourne is joining us. And it is a wonderful day to join the AnArt4Life community because today we showcase the winners of the annual art prizes awarded by the Trustees of the Art Gallery New South Wales. 1

Four of the winners are Indigenous Australians.

The Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’.2

The winner for 2020 is Vincent Namatjira for his acrylic on linen painting, titled: Stand strong for who you are.

Stand strong for who you are

Winner Archibald Prize 2020 Vincent Namatjira Stand strong for who you are © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling1

Vincent Namatjira describes his portrait subject, Adam Goodes, as ‘a proud Aboriginal man who stands strong for his people’. He says: ‘I first met Adam in 2018, when he visited the school in Indulkana where I live, as part of his work promoting Indigenous literacy. When I saw the documentary The final quarter about Adam’s final season of AFL, my guts were churning as I relived Adam’s experiences of relentless racism on and off the field. Memories of my own experiences were stirred up and I wanted to reach out and reconnect with Adam.2

Follow this link for more details about the painting and artist of Stand strong for who you are.

I can highly recommend this article by Stephanie Convery in The Guardian (Australia Edition) on the winning entry.

Archibald prize 2020: Vincent Namatjira named winner for portrait of Adam Goodes
Indigenous artist receives $100,000 on 99th anniversary of Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize

The Wynne Prize
The Wynne Prize is awarded annually for 'the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours or for the best example of figure sculpture by Australian artists’.2

The winner is Hubert Pareroultja for his acrylic on canvas painting, titled: Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges, NT).

Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges, NT)

Winner Wynne Prize 2020 Hubert Pareroultja Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges, NT) © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling 1

I am a Western Aranda man. My family believe giant caterpillars called the Yeperenye became Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges in the distant past). The giant caterpillars entered through gaps in the ranges. In this painting the trees are a symbol for caterpillars coming through to the Country, and they travelled from Mount Zeil past Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to Emily Gap. I believe Emily Gap to be part of the West MacDonnell Ranges (although other people refer to them as the East MacDonnell Ranges). I got all the ideas for the painting from my father, Ruben Pareroultja, because he was a Western Aranda man.
Hubert Pareroultja, 2020
2

Follow this link for more details about the painting and artist of Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges, NT).

To see more paintings by Hubert Pareroultja click here.

Packing Room Prize
First awarded in 1991 and chosen by the Gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries.2

The winner is Meyne Wyatt for his acrylic on canvas painting, titled: Meyne.

Meyne

Winner Packing Room Prize 2020 Meyne Wyatt Meyne © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling1

Meyne Wyatt is a Wongutha-Yamatji actor and writer. He says: ‘My self-portrait is the first painting I’ve done in over ten years and I decided to enter it at the behest of my artist mother, Sue Wyatt, an Archibald Prize finalist in 2003 for her portrait of writer Doris Pilkington.2

Follow this link for more details about the painting and artist of Meyne.

Roberts Family Prize and Highly Commended in the Wynne Prize
The Roberts Family Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Prize (also known as the Roberts Family Prize), which may be awarded to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist.2

The winner is Nyunmiti Burton for her acrylic on linen painting, titled: Seven Sisters.

Seven Sisters

Winner Roberts Family Prize 2020 Nyunmiti Burton Seven Sisters © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins1

This story has been held by Aṉangu since long ago, passed through generations, and is celebrated today. The Seven Sisters story shares lessons in women’s leadership. It tells women how to be strong, how to look after each other – such important lessons today for our young women and girls. Our future leaders.2

Follow this link for more details about the painting and artist of Seven Sisters.

The Sulman Prize
The Sulman Prize is awarded for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project by an Australian artist.2

The winner is Marikit Santiago for her work in acrylic, oil, pen, pyrography and 18ct gold leaf on ply, titled The Divine.

The Divine

Winner Sulman Prize 2020 Marikit Santiago The Divine © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Jenni Carter1

The Christian doctrine of original sin prompts me to examine the ideals and principles surrounding faith, creation stories, motherhood, cultural heritage and gender roles. These themes frequently inform my work, as my practice negotiates the tensions that exist within my multiple identities as a Filipina, an Australian, as a mother and as an artist.2

Follow this link for more details about the painting and artist of The Divine.

Trustees' Watercolour Prize

The winner is Julianne Ross Allcorn for her triptych: watercolour, pencil, charcoal on 21 birch wood panels, titled: Mollitium 2.

Mollitium 2

Winner Trustees Watercolour Prize 2020 Julianne Ross Allcorn Mollitium 2 © the artist Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling 1

Mollitium means ‘resilience’ in Latin. Resilience is the Australian bush; she embraces and forgives. My work travels from right to left – from the threat of fire, to escape and regrowth. I’ve drawn wattle, banksia, grevillea, waratah, gumnuts, gum blossoms, seeds and leaves from different native plants, the Gymea lily and the wildlife of the bush.2

Follow this link for more details about the painting and artist of Mollitium 2.

The Young Archies showcase our future artists from 5 years to 18 years.

Please follow this link to see the amazing art of The Young Archies.

Footnotes

1.All images are reproduced here with permission of the Art Gallery New South Wales.

2.artgallery.nsw.gov.au