By Alesha Capone
The winner of this year’s $12,000 Wyndham Art Prize has been announced as Bathurst-based Wiradyuri conceptual artist Amala Groom.
Wyndham council received more than 350 entries into the annual art competition, with 77 finalists selected.
Ms Groom’s work, titled Copywrong, was picked as the major prizewinner by the competition’s three judges.
Her sculpture of a fake boomerang, incorporating ochre, acrylic and $2 coins, was described as “provocative, considered and impactful in its simplicity” by one of the competition’s judges, Myles Russell-Cook from the National Gallery of Victoria.
He said Ms Groom’s written statement, which accompanied her entry to the Wyndham Art Prize, described Copywrong as an “interrogation into the severe lack of copyright for First Nations materials”.
Ms Groom is from the community of indigenous Australian Wiradjuri people who hail from part of New South Wales.
Mr Russell-Cook said that Wyndham Vale artist wāni Le Frere has been selected as the winner of the competition’s $5000 Local Emerging Art Prize.
Mr Russell-Cook described Mr Le Frere’s work, titled The Final Solution, as “topical and deeply moving in its simplicity”.
The Final Solution consists of video footage of an immigrant family, as audio of a speech by former Australian politician Fraser Anning plays over the top.
Wyndham’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Portfolio Holder, Cr Tony Hooper, said the community had asked for more creative and vibrant events to attend to make the city more liveable and the Wyndham Art Prize was an opportunity to see quality art right at their doorstep, albeit online on this year.
“Wyndham City is committed to vibrant arts and culture events for the community and that’s why we are dedicated to initiatives like the annual Wyndham Art Prize – and we are continuing our programs through Covid-19 via digital platforms,” he said.
“The Wyndham Art Prize is one of the most prestigious art exhibitions in Victoria and we are delighted to attract such talented artists to Wyndham.”
With the Wyndham Art Gallery closed due to COVID-19, residents can take a virtual tour of the Wyndham Art Prize via the council’s website. Voting for the competition’s People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Arts Assist, is still open.
Details: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/whats-on/wyndhamartprize
