In an excellent day for pronouncements of excellence in Australian culture, the forty-one finalists for this year’s Archibald Prize (along with the Wynne, Sulman and Packing Prizes) have just been announced this morning at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Melbourne-based artist Raelene Sharp won the 2012 Packing Room Prize for her portrait of actor John Wood titled ‘A strength of character,’ taking home $1000 cash and a $500 ANZ Visa debit card. Stay Sharp, Raelene.
Sharp’s intimate rendering of Wood’s Gold Logie winning mug isn’t the only pop-cultural painting up for Australia’s most prestigious art prize. Stand (or sit) and stare contemplatively at our top six painterly pop-culture picks/pics below, complete with sketchy gallery talk:
Adam Chang, Emile Sherman
Academy Award winning producer of The King’s Speech, Shame, Rabbit Proof Fence and Candy rendered on an impasto blue screen. Admit One: awesome diptych.
Adam Cullen, Nelson and Koko
The Golden Collar winning Red Dog from the film of the same name, realised in Cullen’s signature graphic style. Positively barking.
Vincent Fantauzzo, Kimbra (the build up)
The cameo lover herself goes under the brush, again. Sultry, moody, photorealistic interactive goodness. When Pedestrian spoke with Kimbra yesterday, she had this to say of her work with Fantauzzo:
We actually did a full video shoot that accompanies the painting. It’s a collaboration – me and [artist] Vincent Fantauzzo had the idea to incorporate art and music so that people would see a portrait and then actually go inside the portrait and experience it as a moving image. It was awesome to be a part off that and he’s one of the most awesome people I’ve ever met.
Benjamin Hedstrom, Annandale band meeting
We’re fairly certain said band is Boy & Bear. Looks like Boy & Bear. Feels like Boy & Bear.
Nick Stathapoulous, Art does belong (portrait of Fenella Kernebone)
The Triple J presenter/colour palette looks pretty chilled – Stathapoulous must’ve been listening to Sound Lab.
Kate Tucker, Melody you’re the only one who saves me (portraits of Missy Higgins)
More like The Sound of All The Colours. So kinetic, yet so serene.
Dust off your art history major, the 2012 Archibald Prize winner will be announced Thursday 15 March at 11am and will run from March 31st to the 3rd of June 2012 at the AGNSW.
Via AGNSW
