City of Devonport Art Award
Drawn to the milder climate, availability of jobs, urban centres and ease of living, the majority of Australia’s population has chosen to reside in coastal areas. Moving with the ebb and flow of the tide, coastal communities are inherently shaped by the movements of the sea. Port towns provide an open door for connecting cities, neighbouring islands and far away places through trade and cultural exchange, fostering change and facilitating economic growth. Symbolically, the sea represents vastness, the unpredictable and the ever-changing façade of the natural world.
A loaded subject to explore creatively, the sea and the communities associated with it provide the thematic springboard for Tidal, a non-acquisitive biennial art award funded by the Devonport City Council. Showcasing the work of twenty local and interstate artists, Tidal hauled in a prime selection of two dimensional media including video, painting, photography, drawing and digital imagery.
A strong Tasmanian contingent made up the majority of the standout works. Securing the first prize of $10,000 was Neil Haddon’s moody painting Survivor (Graft) 2005. A large work depicting the silhouette of an unknown figure posing with three dogs, Survivor blends high gloss enamel with an abraded matte surface to create an elusive image that strips back individuality to reveal the simple essence of physical presence. Although executed with unquestionable skill, without a clear visual reference to the curatorial theme or a descriptive statement to accompany the work, it is difficult to discern why Survivor was chosen over other equally deserving works.
Working with her trademark medium of Asian inspired papercuts, Megan Keating offered one of the most visually impressive works in Tidal. Comprising four panels drenched in lush hues of ebony