The biennial Footscray Art Prize has unveiled the 2023 shortlist with 43 artworks selected from over 500 outstanding submissions received from artists across Australia as well as internationally based creatives.
The 43 artworks shortlisted for the main prize and 113 works from the young artist categories will be exhibited at Footscray Community Arts from Saturday 15 July to Sunday 17 September in a site wide takeover of the venue.
The judging panel comprising University of Melbourne Art Museum Associate Director Charlotte Day, Artist and Curator Phuong Ngo and National Gallery of Victoria’s First Nations Art Curator, Shonae Hobson selected the shortlisted works.
“It was inspiring and reassuring to see so many entries after a couple of tough years for creative practitioners. What a privilege to look at so much new work and breadth of practices and concerns and to do so together with Phuong, Shonae and with the fantastic support of the Footscray Art Prize team,” said Charlotte Day.
The works span multiple platforms and disciplines representing a fascinating portrayal of contemporary creative practice in Australia as well as the artists who produce them.
Victoria Pham’s DOMESTICUS VENUS – Video, sound and sculpture installation work
Narration by Robert Attenborough and Victoria Pham
Among the shortlisted works is Parisian based artist Victoria Pham’s DOMESTICUS VENUS – a mockumentary, satirical video and sculpture installation. Pham who said she was felt incredibly humbled to be shortlisted for the remarkable prize, sent 3D components of her artwork from Paris with the digital elements sent online.
Also shortlisted is previous Footscray Community Arts Artist in Residence Foni Salvatore’s Adau, a stunning oil portrait of a South Sudanese woman whilst Nicholas Burridge’s sculpture Explosive Forming is informed by the history of the Footscray Munitions Factories drawing a parallel between the mark left by a bullet and the effect of manufacturing on a landscape.
Sara Kian-Judge is a Walbunja-Yuin woman and autistic artist working at the intersection of environmental and disability arts explains her work, Autistic Animals which is produced with white ink and watercolour pencils on black paper:
”Animals help me understand my autism. When people talk about culling bats and sharks, it feels the same as when they talk about curing autistic people. So I sometimes feel more bat or shark than human. These drawings express proprioception and sensory disturbance through my relationships with bats and sharks.’”
The exhibition also features the digital video work from admired Barkindji artist Kent Morris, Waa and Wattle, which mirrors the methodical disassembly and denial of First Peoples cultural knowledge and reflects First Nations knowledge systems surviving, regenerating and continually evolving. Well known visual artist, Nikki Lam has transferred 16mm film to 2K digital with sound to produce the unshakable destiny_2021 which has also been shortlisted.
“I would like to recognise the efforts and dedication of the Footscray Art Prize team. This year’s entries are a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of our thriving arts community. A special congratulations to all the artists who entered, it has been an absolute pleasure to engage with your work,” said Shonae Hobson.
“It has been a pleasure working alongside Shonae and Charlotte in the selection process. The calibre of work was inspiring and the selection process introduced me to new and exciting artists and practices from across the country. I’d like to thank all the artists who entered and acknowledge the time and effort taken to do so,” said Phuong Ngo.
Shortlisted artists go into the running for a total cash prize pool of $33,000 including the coveted $20,000 main prize which has doubled this year. The Main Prize, Local Acquisition Prize ($10,000), Residency Artist Prize ($2000) and Young Artists Prize for primary students ($500) and secondary students ($500) will be announced at the exhibition opening on Saturday 15 July.
The biennial prize is a partnership between Victoria University, Maribyrnong City Council, Footscray Community Arts and the Rotary Club of Footscray, who share a commitment to demonstrating and promoting creativity, cultural achievements and the arts.
On Saturday 5 August, The Rotary Club of Footscray will host a dinner and auction to raise funds for local youth projects.
List of shortlisted artists:
Arranged alphabetically by first name
FOOTSCRAY ART PRIZE 2023
Abbra Kotlarczyk
Adrian Lazzaro
Ammar Yonis
Anna Kiparis
Annika Koops
Belinda Yee
Bruce Reynolds
Carolyn Cardinet
Cathy Staughton
Chelle Destefano
Connor Ovenden-Shaw
David Murphy
David Egan
Diego Ramirez
Donna Marcus
Dustin Voggenreiter
Edwina Green
Elyas Alavi
Fassih Keiso
Fleur Brett
Foni Salvatore
Giordano Biondi
Hootan Heydari
Isabella Hone-Saunders
Jack Lee
James Nguyen
Jenna Lee
Jennifer Tran
Jessie Deane
Jody Haines
Katie Paine
Kent Morris
Mark Forbes
Minaal Lawn
Ming Liew
Nicholas Burridge
Nikki Lam
Noah Spivak
Rhys Cousins
Roberta Joy Rich
Sara Kian-Judge
Victoria Pham
Virginia Keft
YOUNG ARTIST PRIZE 2023
All young artist entries are presented in the exhibition.