The winner of the Remagine Art Prize 2024 has been announced, with Lane Cove based artist Phoebe Stone taking out the first prize of $5,000 for her oil and pastel painting, Serene Sea. Inspiration for Phoebe's work came when she was walking the Gadyan track around Sydney's Berry Island Reserve and her eye was taken through the native scrub and over to a large oil tanker.
"Its hull was faded black and rusty red in hue. The irony of the name of the tanker 'Serene Sea' really struck me. An oil tanker, serenity? A 'Serene Sea'? As I walked on, I couldn't help but muse that this might be a plea from the workers of the ship; a serene sea, a safe passage home," said Stone.
"Yet as thoughts about excessive consumption, endless industries devouring fossil fuels, rising temperatures and sea levels swam around my head, I realised, this isn't just their plea, it's ours too. If we aren't careful and if we do not keep our seas serene, in a relatively short space of time, no one will be able to walk this track."
The annual Remagine Art Prize is hosted by Hornsby Shire Council in partnership with Hornsby Art Society. This art prize challenges artists to create works in response to the crisis we are all facing with waste and over-consumption. The theme for this year was 'Crossroads of Consumption', referring to how our everyday consumption can be reduced to limit the impacts of waste and climate change.
Mascot based artist Chris Gleisner was awarded Highly Commended, winning $2,500 in prize money for her work, The Sixth Extinction: a Short-List.
"This short-list represents an ongoing existential crisis: an estimated 1 million species of flora and fauna are threatened with extinction in the upcoming decades. The primary human causal factors in descending order are habitat destruction, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and now climate change. As humans continue to consume the natural world at unsustainable rates, the looming question arises: when will humanity join the list of extinctions?" said Gleisner.
Talented Mount Kuring-gai artist James Birch collected the Local Artist Award and a $1,000 prize for his work, SCRAPS, andWaitara resident, Coco X Huang won the Youth Award (18-25 years) and $1,000 in prize money for her mixed media work, In a Drop of Water....
Fleur Brett from Victoria secured the Recycled/Reused Materials Award and $1,000 in prize money for her sculpture using recycled cardboard and clothing, Yellow Torso (The Muse).
Hornsby Shire Mayor the Hon Philip Ruddock AO praised the finalists for their inspiring artworks.
"Congratulations to these worthy winners of the Remagine Art Prize. These artists have expressed their passion for sustainability and the environment through each of these unique, thought-provoking works. Council remains committed to preserving our natural environment for future generations. This year's theme emphasised how we can all play a part in reducing waste and living more sustainably," Mayor Ruddock said.
The esteemed panel of judges for 2024 were curator Sheona White, contemporary Australian multidisciplinary artist, Susan O'Doherty and local sculptor Ulric Steiner.
Art lovers can visit the 2024 Remagine Art Prize finalist exhibition at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, 25 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby until Sunday, 26 May 2024. Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm. Entry to the exhibition is free.
