2009 Williamstown Festival Contemporary Art Prize - Watch Arts

Kez Hughes2009 Williamstown Festival Contemporary Art PrizeAmaya IturriIt came in the postOil on cotton 2008153 x 102.5cm$1350Convinced PacifistAcrylic on linen 2008, 140 x 180cm$2570Jacqueline JacobiVeronica KentTechnicolourMixed media 200892 x 92cm$1650The Young Spaniard (3 of 6)Print on Fibre Based Paper2009, 108 x 85cm$1600Sara KeranenJohn KnapRepresented by Jackman GalleryThe composition for ‘RedEarth’ was created to throwcaution to our global warmingattitude. The crowd dancingin ignorant bliss and the heatof the sun are all ominoussymbolic perceptions of whatis to come. The coloursand luminosity of the paintcreate atmosphere. Thelarge brushstrokes generatemovement and depth andthe lack of paint on canvasin the area of the sun isrepresentative of emptiness.Red EarthOil on canvas 2008, 92 x 61cm$800Three Faces of Gion Kobu (Triptych)Acrylic & Shellac on Imported Fabric 2008, 100 x 230cm, $6500The beauty of art is perception. What we are looking at? Are we witnessingpleasure? Pain? Anger? Bliss? Plotting? Scheming? They are strangelyfamiliar yet from an entirely different world. We want to help, yet areshocked at what we see. How far do we let ourselves in? This triptychinvestigates the Geisha, peeling back the layers of make up and exposingthe vulnerable and often jaded individual underneath; the beauty and painfelt by those who have chosen this path in life, regardless of the reason.While there is colour, there is darkness; pleasure and pain; acceptanceand fear.13