Abel Tasman Art Prize (ATAP) and exhibition was officially opened by the Mayor of Kingborough, Cr Dean Winter on Friday, November 30, which recognised emerging young artists across Tasmania.
Katelyn Geard from Don College was announced as the overall winner for her graphite and charcoal drawing ‘Self Portrait’, which is from Katelyn’s 2018 Art Studio Practice series “The Condition and The Therapy: Finding Peace Through Art”.
The work draws on her experience with anxiety and reflects that it is not always obvious when someone suffers with this.
Katelyn will be travelling to The Netherlands for a three-week tour, where she will visit Kingborough’s sister city, Grootegast, and will visit some of the great galleries of European art in Amsterdam.
The photographic series Fragility by Lilith Dombrovskis was Highly Commended by the judges.
Lilith revolves her photography around the fragile relationship between humans and the wilderness, using the pure abstraction of the human form and ambiguity of leaf structures.
Viewers agreed with the judges’ recommendation, and Lilith sold three of her photographs during the exhibition.
The Dutch Australia Society prize, presented by Councillor Flora Fox, was presented to Elise Houlahan for her drawing All in God’s Name, which is a response to on-going religiously motivated violence and the effects upon the innocent.
Cr Fox, who is also the President of the Dutch Australia Society said, “It was a very difficult choice due to the quality of work”.
“We were impressed that many of the artists had such a passion for social issues.
“This prize is an amazing opportunity to share cultural and environmental values across two very different countries.”
After a weekend of viewing, the People’s Choice award was a closely run competition, with Juliette Tabbernal-Hearn winning the title.
Juliette’s painting A Extinção highlights the decline of monkey populations due to the acts of deforestation.
It is aimed to evoke sad feelings and gives viewers a glimpse of the environmental destruction humans have on the habitat of other animals, through the use of colours, perspective and emotion.
Cr Winter congratulated all of the artists in the exhibition.
“The quality of all of the artwork is outstanding,” he said.
“It is great to see our young people so invested in social and environmental issues and being able to translate their views into art.”
The Abel Tasman Art Prize was initiated by the Dutch Australia Society in 2000 to celebrate the bonds between The Netherlands and Tasmania.
The prize runs alternate years in each place and the winner visits the other’s country.
The ATAP is a partnership between Kingborough Council, Calvin Christian School and the Dutch Australia Society (Abel Tasman Inc.).
Pictured: Winners of this year’s Abel Tasman Art Prize, Elise Houlahan, Lilith Dombrovskis and Katelyn Geard at the opening on Friday, November 30. (PS)
