Week 3: The Walters Prize 2010

1. What is the background to the Walters Prize?

- The Walters Price is the most prestigious contemporary art price in New Zealand. This award recognizes artists who have made a large contribution to contemporary art in New Zealand over the past two years. The award is named after the artist Gordon Walters and was started by Erika and Robin Congreve and also Dame Jenny Gibbs who wanted to make contemporary art more recognized in New Zealand.

2. List the 4 selected artists for 2010 and briefly describe their work.

- Fiona Connor: Had a more architectural approach to her work consisting her work with transparent and white objects giving an open feel to the work.

- Saskia Leek: Uses pastel colours to give a sort of animated look to her work.

- Alex Monteith: His work is more based around photography with a image of a motorcycle riding along a large area of sand.

- Dan Arps: His work is very sculptural and uses different materials to create his work.

3. Who are the jury members for 2010?

- Jon Bywater - Programme leader, Auckland University

- Rhana Devenport - Director, New Plymouth

- Leonhard Emmerling - Visual Arts advisor, Germany, AUT University

- Kate Montgomery - Director, Christchurch

4. Who is the judge for 2010 and what is his position in the art world?

- Vicente Todoli, who is was a former-director of London's Tate Modern which is now the most visited art museum of the modern world.

5. Who would you nominate for this years Walter's Prize, and why? Substantiate
you answer by outlining the strengths of the artists work. How does this relate
to your interests in art? What aspect of their work is successful in your opinion,
in terms of ideas, materials and/or installation of the work?

- The artist I would nominate for the 2010 Walters price would be Alex Monteith. The reason I choose this artist because I like the style of work he does. I like the way his work is so simple but provides the viewer with a strong point the artist is trying to connect to its viewer. The aspects of his work which is successful is the ideas behind his work. He can use such a ordinary subject such as a motorcycle and provide a strong point about such as the illegal lane changes on motorways. I liked that work most because it was almost something you would have to think about to understand what the artist is trying to show to its audience.

References:

- http://www.aucklandartgallery.com/whats-on/events/2010/july/the-walters-prize-2010#The%20Jurors