The Archibald Prize ~ Sydney a/k/a 'THYDNEY'
SPECIAL NOTE: Yesterday I wrote this post out of extreme frustration and let it marinate overnight. I did more research today and am quite happy to post it now. Normally, I don't write about sour grapes, but you have to write about what irks you as well as what gives you immense joy. At least, I do.
The Archibald Prize...hmmmmmm...
WHO are the actual judges? I want to research this because I am under the impression that we need a batch of new ones.
Out of all the choices, I read in the paper today that the judges were unanimous in their decision. I doubt that very much. I imagine (I see) a leader; there was a person whom, had an air of intimidation, proudly pointing out (very discreetly of course, how much he/she knew about fine art) and began leading the 'couldn't draw a portrait if their lives depended upon it'...remaining 'judges' to the trophy trough. This one particular person is consuming copious amounts of French Champagne tonight and cheering: 'I did it. I did it. They all listened to me. I am a genius.'
Not.
The Archibald Prize has become almost unbearable.
There is this air about it which has become stale and it is not the entries...it is most decidedly the judges.
And then...one person (whose name I am purposely disregarding) had the audacity to write about the 'artist selfies' that were entered as portraits. This writer went on to explain how the Archibald participants were supposed to submit a portrait painting of a person of importance, i.e. a politician, a musician, a scientist, doctor...someone whom had made a profound difference in the economic, climatic, ethical or moral landscape in Australia. (As if any interested reader/follower was not already well aware of the parameters of this particular prize. Don't you hate it when someone thinks they need to educate you?)
Well, artists are equally important as ALL of these aforementioned people.
'Well Done' to all artists whom chose to paint themselves. I cannot begin to imagine what a terribly difficult and uncomfortable task that might prove to be to most participants; unbelievably intimate and telling and provocative and intriguing, but still...a monumental undertaking.
And, perhaps these Australian artists are simply sick to death of career politicians not saying anything different nor contributing to their communities and their states. WHEN was the last time Australia had a dynamic, outstanding, shining star of a political leader? WHEN?
Oh, and by the way...South Australia leads the world in the way we can and should be dealing with climate change. The rest of Australia and the world is taking a page out of our book and watching us closely. That says a lot.
South Australia could most definitely lead the Archibald Prize to a better place.
I am thinking that it is about time The Archibald Prize was moved to this quaint, honest, creative, state which is home to an abundance of super minds that know how to think 'outside of a box' and they do not fear repercussions of any type. That will never happen, of course, because the Archibald is embedded in Sydney's history.
The Archibald Prize only truly happened because Sydney was so completely jealous of Melbourne and the strides Melbourne was making in the artistic world decades ago. Read all about it in the history of the Archibald. Sydney genuinely kicking up a fit - attempting to 'out-do' their sister city.
Stale. Stuffy. Thydney.
No doubt the current Archibald winner has talent, but there was a deep well filled with creativity this year and to think...the judges' vote was unanimous and that was the winning choice? Boggles the mind. But, take a good look at the painting - self portrait? No. Portrait of someone else and I don't care whom she is patterning herself after. Painting does not work. (For me.) For me: it is clumsy and even appears rushed; and I am not drawn to it for any particular reason. IF I want to linger on a piece; IF I am drawn to it for anything in particular...then, I'm usually hooked.
Irks me. Disappoints. Saddens. Frustrates. Distresses.
Many entries were captivating. Size may not matter to some. Although I cannot (in my mind's eye) see how the tiniest of paintings would fare well or even look particularly good against the looming and gigantic masterpieces. Perhaps the Archibald should stick to ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
Sydney. You have us all yawning. October ~ I see South Australia holding their own delicious national art award in the gorgeous, glowing month of October. The talent in this state is literally bursting at the seams.
Wouldn't it be delightful to invite JUDGES from overseas next year? That will keep the final decision fresh, clean, and vibrant.
Yes. The Archibald has seen better years and most of them are in the distant past.
Poor Sydney. Sydney. Stick to what you know best - Your Insanely High Cost of Living, Darling Harbour, and The Opera House. Sydney wants to be the Australian leader of the arts, but it is not.
Please.
It was my pleasure to Google the Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees and no, NO, you will not be surprised at the findings. The board has a prerequisite that 2 (only) of their members shall be knowledgeable and experienced in the visual arts. Do you find that hard to swallow? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? These folks decide the WINNER of the Archibald Prize.
This is supposed to be THE wealthiest board in the country. The wealth is not helping nor enhancing the reputation of this prize.
I am GOBSMACKED. The group does quite well in the world of money. No doubt, they purchase a lot of art. But, what do they actually know about it? Well, we know the answer to that as of yesterday's judging.
If the names registered are current below is a list of the Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees:
David Gonski ~ chairman of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.
Mark Nelson ~ founder and chairman of the Caledonia Investment Group
Geoffrey Ainsworth ~ director of Benthic Geotech Pty Ltd
Khadim Ali - YAY! ~ internationally acclaimed contemporary artist; born in Quetta, Pakistan - moved to Australia on a Distinguished Talent Visa
Catherine Brenner ~ chairman of AMP, former chairman of AMP Life Limited and the National Mutual Life Association of Australia (another article said Catherine was no longer a member of the board???)
Ashley Dawson-Damer ~ director of Yuills group of companies
Professor S. Bruce Dowton ~ vice chancellor and president of Macquarie University, paediatrician, clinical geneticist, molecular biologist...the list goes on.
Samantha Meers ~ executive deputy chairman of property and investment group the Nelson Meers Group
Gretel Packer ~ chair of the advisory board for Crown Resorts Foundation Ltd. and trustee of Sydney Theatre Company Foundation
Andrew Roberts ~ principal of the RF Capital Pty Ltd, a private funds management company
Ben Quilty ~ YAY! ~ is a practicing artist and Sydney College of Arts graduate; completed studies in Aboriginal culture and history, too.
So, Ben and Khadim...get your fellow artists together and get them on board - LITERALLY. What a difference that would make.
The above group presents as a sophisticated cocktail gathering for the investment banking world and the world of private fund management. This is why I am not shocked at their choice for the 2018 Archibald Winner.
It was refreshing to me today to read Christopher Allen's comment in The Australian: What were the judges thinking? IF YOU CAN get to it and if you have a deep interest in the outcome of the Archibald...read it and weep. I admire this man's thought processes. He makes great calls as an art critic, too. Christopher Allen is one of my new heroes.
Posted In Dismay.
Blanco, happy to be married to an artist...of
The Roaming Stevens
The Archibald Prize...hmmmmmm...
WHO are the actual judges? I want to research this because I am under the impression that we need a batch of new ones.
Out of all the choices, I read in the paper today that the judges were unanimous in their decision. I doubt that very much. I imagine (I see) a leader; there was a person whom, had an air of intimidation, proudly pointing out (very discreetly of course, how much he/she knew about fine art) and began leading the 'couldn't draw a portrait if their lives depended upon it'...remaining 'judges' to the trophy trough. This one particular person is consuming copious amounts of French Champagne tonight and cheering: 'I did it. I did it. They all listened to me. I am a genius.'
Not.
The Archibald Prize has become almost unbearable.
There is this air about it which has become stale and it is not the entries...it is most decidedly the judges.
And then...one person (whose name I am purposely disregarding) had the audacity to write about the 'artist selfies' that were entered as portraits. This writer went on to explain how the Archibald participants were supposed to submit a portrait painting of a person of importance, i.e. a politician, a musician, a scientist, doctor...someone whom had made a profound difference in the economic, climatic, ethical or moral landscape in Australia. (As if any interested reader/follower was not already well aware of the parameters of this particular prize. Don't you hate it when someone thinks they need to educate you?)
Well, artists are equally important as ALL of these aforementioned people.
'Well Done' to all artists whom chose to paint themselves. I cannot begin to imagine what a terribly difficult and uncomfortable task that might prove to be to most participants; unbelievably intimate and telling and provocative and intriguing, but still...a monumental undertaking.
And, perhaps these Australian artists are simply sick to death of career politicians not saying anything different nor contributing to their communities and their states. WHEN was the last time Australia had a dynamic, outstanding, shining star of a political leader? WHEN?
Oh, and by the way...South Australia leads the world in the way we can and should be dealing with climate change. The rest of Australia and the world is taking a page out of our book and watching us closely. That says a lot.
South Australia could most definitely lead the Archibald Prize to a better place.
I am thinking that it is about time The Archibald Prize was moved to this quaint, honest, creative, state which is home to an abundance of super minds that know how to think 'outside of a box' and they do not fear repercussions of any type. That will never happen, of course, because the Archibald is embedded in Sydney's history.
The Archibald Prize only truly happened because Sydney was so completely jealous of Melbourne and the strides Melbourne was making in the artistic world decades ago. Read all about it in the history of the Archibald. Sydney genuinely kicking up a fit - attempting to 'out-do' their sister city.
Stale. Stuffy. Thydney.
No doubt the current Archibald winner has talent, but there was a deep well filled with creativity this year and to think...the judges' vote was unanimous and that was the winning choice? Boggles the mind. But, take a good look at the painting - self portrait? No. Portrait of someone else and I don't care whom she is patterning herself after. Painting does not work. (For me.) For me: it is clumsy and even appears rushed; and I am not drawn to it for any particular reason. IF I want to linger on a piece; IF I am drawn to it for anything in particular...then, I'm usually hooked.
Irks me. Disappoints. Saddens. Frustrates. Distresses.
Many entries were captivating. Size may not matter to some. Although I cannot (in my mind's eye) see how the tiniest of paintings would fare well or even look particularly good against the looming and gigantic masterpieces. Perhaps the Archibald should stick to ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
Sydney. You have us all yawning. October ~ I see South Australia holding their own delicious national art award in the gorgeous, glowing month of October. The talent in this state is literally bursting at the seams.
Wouldn't it be delightful to invite JUDGES from overseas next year? That will keep the final decision fresh, clean, and vibrant.
Yes. The Archibald has seen better years and most of them are in the distant past.
Poor Sydney. Sydney. Stick to what you know best - Your Insanely High Cost of Living, Darling Harbour, and The Opera House. Sydney wants to be the Australian leader of the arts, but it is not.
Please.
It was my pleasure to Google the Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees and no, NO, you will not be surprised at the findings. The board has a prerequisite that 2 (only) of their members shall be knowledgeable and experienced in the visual arts. Do you find that hard to swallow? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? These folks decide the WINNER of the Archibald Prize.
This is supposed to be THE wealthiest board in the country. The wealth is not helping nor enhancing the reputation of this prize.
I am GOBSMACKED. The group does quite well in the world of money. No doubt, they purchase a lot of art. But, what do they actually know about it? Well, we know the answer to that as of yesterday's judging.
If the names registered are current below is a list of the Art Gallery of NSW Board of Trustees:
David Gonski ~ chairman of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.
Mark Nelson ~ founder and chairman of the Caledonia Investment Group
Geoffrey Ainsworth ~ director of Benthic Geotech Pty Ltd
Khadim Ali - YAY! ~ internationally acclaimed contemporary artist; born in Quetta, Pakistan - moved to Australia on a Distinguished Talent Visa
Catherine Brenner ~ chairman of AMP, former chairman of AMP Life Limited and the National Mutual Life Association of Australia (another article said Catherine was no longer a member of the board???)
Ashley Dawson-Damer ~ director of Yuills group of companies
Professor S. Bruce Dowton ~ vice chancellor and president of Macquarie University, paediatrician, clinical geneticist, molecular biologist...the list goes on.
Samantha Meers ~ executive deputy chairman of property and investment group the Nelson Meers Group
Gretel Packer ~ chair of the advisory board for Crown Resorts Foundation Ltd. and trustee of Sydney Theatre Company Foundation
Andrew Roberts ~ principal of the RF Capital Pty Ltd, a private funds management company
Ben Quilty ~ YAY! ~ is a practicing artist and Sydney College of Arts graduate; completed studies in Aboriginal culture and history, too.
So, Ben and Khadim...get your fellow artists together and get them on board - LITERALLY. What a difference that would make.
The above group presents as a sophisticated cocktail gathering for the investment banking world and the world of private fund management. This is why I am not shocked at their choice for the 2018 Archibald Winner.
It was refreshing to me today to read Christopher Allen's comment in The Australian: What were the judges thinking? IF YOU CAN get to it and if you have a deep interest in the outcome of the Archibald...read it and weep. I admire this man's thought processes. He makes great calls as an art critic, too. Christopher Allen is one of my new heroes.
Posted In Dismay.
Blanco, happy to be married to an artist...of
The Roaming Stevens
DRAW. CREATE. USE YOUR HANDS for something other than your phone. YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT WHAT YOUR MIND IS READY TO RELEASE!
In the meantime, stay safe and happy while you roam.
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