Melbourne based artist Clinton Naina (Meriam Mir) is the winner of the Koorie Art Show, Creative Victoria Award for Excellence in Any Media announced this afternoon (Saturday 5 December 2020). He has been awarded a cash prize of $10,000 for his work LANDFILL, 2020.
“Remnants and evidence from the used only once popular commercial culture and disregarded throw away world,” Naina said in his artist statement.
“Bits and pieces of capitalism, imperialism and colonialism, all gathered together creating a consumer’s burial site, hidden deeply into our sacred Earth.”
“Colourful shiny synthetic plastic domestic objects, manufactured from toxic poisonous chemicals and gases forever there bleaching, polluting and looting our natural ecosystems.”
“For the sake of the first world economy, and someone’s, so-called wealth and greed. Safe, light blue surgical masks, worn to prevent the spread of airborne illness, death and disease. A white plastic shopping bag lays empty, full of nothingness, at a price that no one really can afford. Used only once more, that’s all. As Landfill,” said Naina.
The judging panel: Uncle Larry Walsh (Taungurung), Elder and renowned storyteller who has worked directly in cultural heritage and was vital to the progress of the Woor-Dungin’s Criminal Record Discrimination Project; Maxine Briggs (Taungwurrung and Yorta Yorta), Indigenous Research Centre, State Library of Victoria; and Stacie Piper (Wurundjeri, Djadjawurrung and Ngurai Illum-Wurrung), Victorian NAIDOC committee chairperson, First National Curator at TarraWarra Museum of Art and Djirri Djirri dancer.
“It has been a privilege to be part of the judging process while also being a huge challenge to determine the winners, given the high standard of works entered,” said the judging panel. “Powerful voices are emerging, and the KAS has allowed us to discover artists, their stories and their concerns for community, cultural and the environment.”
With a total prize pool of $32,000, the largest of its kind in Victoria, the Award Judges have announced the additional Award recipients:
Viva Energy Australia 3D Award – $5,000
Lorraine Brigdale (Yorta Yorta Nations), Yenbena Munalibik, Raffia coil weave, handmade ochre paint, handmade botanic Ink and river stone
Metro Tunnel Creative Program 2D Award – $5,000
Alan Stewart (Taungurung), Remembrance, photographic print
City of Melbourne Aboriginal Melbourne Award- $5,000
Deanne Gilson (Wadawurrung), Post Pandemic, After the Gaze, the King Parrots Bring Hope, White ancestral ochre, acrylic, wattle tree sap, fabric, elastic, wood on stretched linen
KHT Emerging Artist Award – $5,000
Sean Miller (Kamilaroi), Twilight Flight, print on aluminium
KHT Encouragement Awards – $500 each
Patricia Pittman (Yuin Nation – Bega NSW), River Dreaming, acrylic and ink on paper, and Iluka Sax-Williams (Taungurung, Tibrean), Untitled work, pokerwork on kangaroo skin
The Koorie Heritage Trust People’s Choice Award $1,000 will be announced at the close of the exhibition.
“The calibre and incredible range of work is indicative of the range and depth of the talent of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists practicing here in Victoria,” said Tom Mosby, CEO, Koorie Heritage Trust.
“I wish to especially acknowledge all artists who have submitted artworks to the 8th Koorie Art Show, and that they have continued their artistic practice despite the very challenging and extraordinary times we have gone through in 2020.”
The Koorie Art Show is an annual art Award and exhibition and is the only exhibition in Victoria dedicated to showcasing the work of Koorie and Victorian based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. 121 artists from across Victoria submitted works for the Award.
The Koorie Art Show has been a spring-board for national recognition with many of the artists finding gallery representations, going on to present solo shows throughout Australia and to have their work in national collections, both private and public. All works are available for sale to the public.
The 8th Koorie Art Show opens to the public on Monday 7 December 2020 and continues to Sunday 21 February 2021 at the Koorie Heritage Trust, Yarra Building, Federation Square, Melbourne. Free entry. For more information, visit: www.koorieheritagetrust.com.au for details.
Image: Clinton Naina (Meriam Mir), LANDFILL, 2020. Bleach on cotton 2500 x 1030mm – courtesy of the Artist and the Koorie Heritage Trust