Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition 2013

Local artists celebrated

Seven emerging visual artists featured at the Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition 2013 were presented with awards valued in excess of $22,000 on the event's opening night.

A brand new award, the most valuable exhibition award to date, the $7,500 San Remo Best New Talent Visual Arts Award was presented to Mary Ann Santin, a graduate from the Adelaide Central School of Art. The Best New Talent Award acknowledges a graduating artist who has not yet received significant recognition, but demonstrates great potential as an artist. The judges were drawn to the seductive qualities of Mary Ann’s large-scale painting I’m Not Perfect, a mixed media piece created using found book pages and old drawings.

The Hill Smith Gallery/Helpmann Academy Friends Award was presented to Adelaide College of the Arts graduate Tom Borgas. This $5,000 award provides for travel to any destination in the world and cash towards living expenses. The award offers Tom an immediate opportunity to pursue his art in new environments.

The Raffen Award, valued at $3,500, was presented to Loique Allain from the Adelaide College of the Arts. Loique’s large-scale vinyl cut on Hahnamühle paper – Meadows – was chosen for its bold execution and her exemplary level of technical skill. Supported by a Helpmann Academy grant, Loique is currently undertaking a residency in large-scale printing at the Venice Printmaking Studio in Italy, following a Helpmann Academy Mentorship with master printer Theo Tremblay in 2012. Meadows now becomes part of a significant and growing private collection of contemporary art from emerging South Australian artists.

Adelaide Central School of Art graduate Jenna Pippett was presented with the $3,000 City of Adelaide Award. The judging panel was drawn to the interactive nature of her video projection work Together, where an image of the artist is superimposed over photographs of her ancestors and family. The work is an exploration of Jenna’s link to her past. “It’s a really lovely idea, impersonating your history,” commented Lisa Slade, who formed part of the judging panel together with Fleurieu Art Prize Chair Paul Hamra and Artlab Australia’s Director Andrew Durham. “This type of work enables the public to be involved and engage with the work.” As part of her prize, Jenna will have the opportunity to exhibit her work in a central city location.

The Adelaide City Council also presented a $2,000 acquisitive award to emerging photographer Hailey Lane from UniSA’s School of Art, Architecture and Design. Her series of giclee prints featuring striking Australian landscapes ravaged by bushfires were highly praised by the judges for their quality and level of technical execution. These three works will now become part of the Adelaide City Council’s collection of artworks exhibited across the CBD.

The $500 Peter Walker Fine Art Encouragement Award was presented to Olivia Kathigitis, a graduate from UniSA’s School of Art, Architecture and Design, for her exquisitely crafted wax bust, Figure #3. This award is presented to an artist that in the opinion of the panel deserves particular encouragement to continue with their current art practice.

Westley Tully from the Adelaide College of the Arts was chosen as the winner of the SALA Festival Award. Paul Hamra said Westley’s “impactful” and highly immersive installation work Luminescence A: Mass represents the ideal fit for the SALA Festival, in combination with his bronze sculptural works. Panellist Lisa Slade was impressed by Westley’s ability to experiment and expand beyond his sculptural works with such an ambitious installation piece. “It is rare to find an artist so committed to a process like bronze casting to be involved in something so experimental; it reflects a genuine maturity to be able to take that step.” Westley’s award covers the cost of Premium Registration for the SALA Festival 2013, as well as $500 cash.

Tom Borgas was also selected as the winner of the $250 Backer’s Prize. The award is presented on behalf of representatives from the Helpmann Academy’s visual arts partner institutions, including administration staff, art suppliers and facility managers who have all supported the artists behind the scenes throughout their studies.

The Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition is unique in Australia for the high standard of work it showcases. The exhibition features selected work by graduates from the Academy’s three visual arts partners: Adelaide Central School of Art; Adelaide College of the Arts (TAFE SA) and the School of Art, Architecture and Design (UniSA).