Regarded one of the most coveted art competitions in Australia, the Archibald Prize has been showcasing the beauty of humanity for 91 years. Entries for the 2012 Archibald opened on Monday, 5 March, and since then there have been over 300 artworks submitted into competition to the Art Gallery Of New South Wales‘ packing room.
For those interested in one of Australian Art’s highest accolades and the giant $75,000 in prize money, entries will close this Friday at 4pm so there’s still time to get your submission in. Packing room staff told Pedestrian that in previous years, works of art have arrived with the paint still drying on the canvas.
Just remember it has to be a portrait.
One of the many Archibald-related controversies over the years was the disqualification of artist Evert Ploeg who, in 1997, submitted a painting of the Bananas in Pyjamas. A portrait has to be an artistic representation of a person and, despite their human-like fondness for PJs, bananas do not a portrait-subject make. Two years later Ploeg was voted the People’s Choice for his painting of Actress Deborah Mailman.
Every year the artworks include some high-profile subjects and this year the familiar faces are back in force. They include Barry Otto painted by artist Paul Jackson (title image), as well as Hazel Hawke by Gillian Dunlop, and legendary crooner and Big Day Out stalwart, Kamahl (below).
Kamahl by artist Debbit Angus
Hundreds of paintings are stacked like dominoes facing the newly painted walls, eagerly awaiting judgment day. Packing room volunteer, Brett, says it’s still too early to call which work is the favourite.
The 2012 Archibald Prize winner will be announced Thursday 15 March at 11am. The exhibition is open to the public on 31 March to the 3 June 2012 at the Art Gallery of NSW.
