History of the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award
In
it’s first year, 2000, the award of $10000 was given to artist Gavin
Hipkins for his photo of a soap dish. In 2001 performance artist
and hip hop DJ Daniel Malone received the award for his image of a
graffiti covered cricket pitch. The next year Dave Stewart’s
controversial ‘beer crate’ sculpture was chosen as the winner.
In 2003, Tobias Berger, Director of Artspace in Auckland, chose
Rohan Weallens’ ‘To The Moon and Back’ to win. Made of 80-90 layers of
bright yellow paint cut open and peeled back to expose flesh coloured
layers beneath. “All these layers of paint made me think about time and
sexuality…art and sex being some of the oldest pursuits given to
humankind.”1
2004's exhibition
featured a selection of artists that came from locations all around New
Zealand but also from varying levels of career development and
experience. Curated by Sophie McIntyre of Adam Art Gallery in
Wellington, the show reflected the diverse range of concerns and lines
of enquiry currently being explored by New Zealand’s contemporary art
practitioners.
The catalogue for the 2004 Award is still online and available for viewing at www.ncaa.co.nz.
The
National Contemporary Art Award receives generous support from Trust
Waikato, the Hamilton City Council and the Waikato Museum of Art and
History.
1Tobias Berger 2003
History of the Summer Art Award
In
the second year of the Waikato National Art Awards (2001), because of
the controversy surrounding the winning entry of 2000, the decision was
made to establish two separate WSA supported Art Awards. The focus on
the ‘Summer Waikato National Art Award’ became specifically painting
and printmaking. The winner of this $10000 award in 2002 was the
painting ‘Hush’ by artist Lorraine Rastorfer. The next year Ruth
Cleland was the 2003 winner for her aquatint and graphite print,
‘Interstice’. The judge was Linda Tyler of the Hocken Gallery, Dunedin.
In 2004, judge Anna Bibby, of the Anna Bibby Gallery Auckland, chose
Auckland artist Seung Yul Oh to receive the $20000 increased prize
money, for his painting, ‘It’s ultra moisture and protein rich
formulation smoothes’. “It’s comic-book doodle style is certainly
offhand – you might even call it punk – but it has attitude. When I saw
the work I thought here’s someone to watch.1”
The award is kindly supported by donation from the Phillip Vela Family Trust.
1Anna Bibby 2004