Bowness Photography Prize shortlist reveals images of isolation, protest, hope and celebration

Published by: Monash Gallery of Art | 30-Jul-2021
In the midst of lockdown the three judges “ acclaimed artist Del Kathryn Barton, MGA Director Anouska Phizacklea and Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Australia, Karen Quinlan AM, met, discussed and narrowed down the strong field of entrants to the William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize to a shortlist of 52 works to be exhibited as the 2021 edition of the prize.
Venue: Monash Gallery of Art
Address: 860A Ferntree Gully Road
Date: 9 September “ 7 November 2021
Ticket: Free entry
Web: https://www.mga.org.au/bowness-prize
: https://www.facebook.com/Bowness.Photography.Prize
: https://www.instagram.com/mga_photography/
: https://twitter.com/MGA_photography
: https://au.linkedin.com/company/monash-gallery-of-art
EMail: bowness@monash.vic.gov.au
Call: 358440500
The shortlist, selected from 739 entries, includes a stellar line-up of contemporary Australian artists who continued to make important work during a difficult past year. Themes that emerged reflect the disparate experiences of artists and the trajectories their artistic practice has traversed. Themes of isolation, protest and the impact of COVID restrictions emerged in the works that exposed underlying issues that we have been confronted with. However, the shortlist also speaks to moments of hope and celebration that includes exemplary examples of intimate portraiture, traditional landscapes with a modern spin and some outright quirky images.

Over the last 16 years, the Bowness Photography Prize has emerged as an important annual survey of contemporary photographic practice in Australia and one of the most prestigious prizes in the country. Monash Gallery of Art invited artists to submit still photo-based media including analogue and digital photography created over the last year for consideration. The winning work will be awarded $30,000 and will be acquired into MGA's nationally significant collection of Australian photographs. The Smith & Singer People's Choice Award will be voted by the public with the recipient receiving $5,000.

The MGA Foundation recognises the importance of supporting practicing artists, and the positive impact the $30,000 prize money for both the winner and the $5,000 Smith & Singer People's Choice Award will have on the recipients.

Congratulations to the following finalists:
Leith Alexander, Svetlana Bailey, Kate Ballis, Lauren Bamford, Gabrielle Bates, Tom Blachford, Paul Blackmore, Christophe Canato, Danica Chappell, Benjamin Cole, Nici Cumpston, Tamara Dean, Marian Drew, Jo Duck, Liss Fenwick, Silvi Glattauer, Richard Glover, Rebecca Griffiths, Joanne Handley, Jesse Harvey, Ponch Hawkes, Joseph Häxan, Petrina Hicks, Edi Ivancic, Angelique Joy, Tony Kearney, Ingvar Kenne, Shea Kirk, Honey Long and Prue Stent, Paula Mahoney, Harry McAlpine, Joseph McGlennon, Rod McNicol, Danie Mellor, Hayley Millar Baker, Mark Mohell, Lillian O'Neil, Meredith O'Shea, Ashley Perry, Patrick Pound, Ruiqi Qiu, Tonina Ryan, Amber Schmidt, Jessica Schwientek, Christopher Sheils, Melissa Spiccia, Ali Tahayori, Christian Thompson, Angela Tiatia, James Tylor, Justine Varga, Amy Woodward

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