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This year’s Whyalla Art Prize has hit the big screen and you can see it for free.
Regional South Australia-based artist CJ Taylor won the $25,000 Prize with a video artwork titled The Hut (5/4). It was the second time video artwork has been included as an option for entrants and the first time this medium won.
To celebrate this first, the film is being shown with free entry in Cinema 1 at the Middleback Arts Centre every Wednesday and Saturday from 12.15pm.
The Hut (5/4) was selected unanimously as the 2017 winner by judges including the Art Gallery of South Australia’s inaugural Curator of Contemporary Art, Leigh Robb; Director of the Riddoch Art Gallery, Dr Melentie Pandilovski and Paul Snell, winner of the 2015 Whyalla Art Prize.
“CJ Taylor's genre-defying video is cinematic in atmosphere, poetic in sentiment and painterly in palette,” the judges said.
“A sophisticated moving image work full of Renaissance motifs, it was filmed in multiple locations around the world from the haunting South Australian desert to the reaches of the Shetland islands.
“This powerful and emotive screen work collapses history and geography in an original contemporary gothic story.”
Artist CJ Taylor was rapt to have won the award with his work originally shown on a small screen during the judging before jumping now on to the cinema screen.
“I’m thrilled that the work has been recognised, not only because of the strength and depth of work from the other finalists, but also because of my respect for the judges who selected it,” said Taylor, who is from Prospect Hill, near Kuitpo Forrest.
“Video art has claimed its own place in contemporary art. It’s extremely gratifying that video work is now included in this respected award.
“Video has long been exhibited and collected since the 80s. The moving image has become an important art form, communication channel and storytelling platform for the 21st century.”
All of the 55 finalists for this year's Whyalla Art Prize are still on display in the foyer of the Middleback Arts Centre and voting is still open for the People's Choice Award until December 2.
The Hut (5/4) will be shown at the Middleback Arts Centre until November 25. Further enquiries can be made to the centre on 8644 7300.
