Internationally celebrated Marrickville-based artist Denis Beaubois has been named the first Create NSW & Museum of Contemporary Art Australia 2019 NSW Visual Arts Mid-Career/Established Fellow, valued up to $50,000.
Create NSW Deputy Secretary Alex O’Mara and Arts Investment, Engagement and Development Director Grainne Brunsdon joined MCA Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE and Digital Director, Blair French at MCA to meet Denis and announce his Fellowship.
Beaubois, who works across the multi-disciplinary fields of video, photography and performance, will receive $30,000 in funding from Create NSW to focus a self-directed professional development program on ‘language, polyethnic nationalism and sovereignty’ in his home country of Mauritius and investigate virtual reality techniques with which to present his work.
“Denis Beaubois is a dynamic and acclaimed artist whose works have contributed to current artistic debate. Having been recognised with two influential international art prizes in his career to date, he is a fine example of a NSW-based artist making an impact on the global arts landscape,” said Ms O’Mara.
“His works strike a powerful chord across the world and his approach is a fine match for this first year of our partnership in celebrating visual artists with the MCA. I’m excited to see how his Fellowship program will propel his career further.”
The Fellowship was chosen by a panel of industry peers chaired by Mikala Tai, Director of 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Beaubois will also undertake an additional project or acquisition commission from the MCA up to the value of $20,000.
“The MCA is extremely pleased to be working with Create NSW on this fellowship providing outstanding support to a mid-career artist at a crucial time in their development,” said MCA Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE.
“Denis has contributed substantially to the development of video and performance art in Australia, he first exhibited with the MCA as part of the 2008 exhibition Video Logic. We congratulate Denis on winning this competitive prize and look forward to working with him in a new capacity.”
For more information, visit: www.create.nsw.gov.au or www.mca.com.au for details.
Image: Denis Beaubois – photo by Daniel Boud