A painting that explores how smartphone technology impacts upon being “in the moment” has been won People’s Choice Award in the Wyndham Art Prize.
Wyndham council and Arts Assist last week announced Aisha Hara’s work has taken out the prize in the annual competition.
Ms Hara’s oil on canvas, titled Set Out to Package the World, received the most votes from people who viewed the competition’s entries in an exhibition.
Set Out to Package the World is a commentary on how mobile phone photography allows someone to capture a moment, but can prevent them from truly being in the present.
Ms Hara, who is studying Fine Arts at RMIT, works in multiple creative forms including painting, light installation and collage.
She will receive $2,500 for winning the People’s Choice Award.
Wyndham’s creative cities portfolio holder, Cr Marcel Mahfoud, congratulated Ms Hara on her achievement.
“Aisha’s artwork is colourful, thought-provoking and makes you think about the way we now interact with our surroundings and communicate with others,” he said.
“She should be extremely proud of winning this award.”
Cr Mahfoud said that Wyndham council was committed “to providing opportunities for our community to get involved in the arts”.
“The People’s Choice is fantastic because our community gets to select their favourite artwork and is completely objective,” he said.
Arts Assist chair Jan Goates said the organisation was proud to have sponsored the People’s Choice Award for this year’s Wyndham Art Prize.
“Our congratulations to Aisha Hara for winning the award, whose artwork overwhelming resonated with so many of those who cast a vote,” Ms Goates said.
See: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au.arts or www.artsassist.org.au for details.
