Josh Muir has been announced as the People’s Choice Winner of the 2014 Victorian Indigenous Arts Awards for his work, Heavens Gate.
Muir’s Heavens Gates (pictured above) was voted the most popular from a field of 35 works featured in the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards exhibition at Art Gallery of Ballarat. The artwork, a street and pop-art inspired digital print, weaves Greek mythology into Muir’s own experiences as a Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man.
Announcing the winner of the $2,500 award, Victorian Minister for the Arts, Heidi Victoria said Heavens Gates by Josh Muir demonstrates the diversity of Victoria’s Indigenous arts sector.
“Victorian Indigenous artists work across a variety of mediums, upholding traditions that date back thousands of years as well as working with state-of-the-art technology and contemporary mediums,” Ms Victoria said.
“Josh’s work reflects street art culture as well as his life experiences and proud cultural heritage – it’s a vibrant work that showcases his abundant talent. Close to 600 people cast their votes both online via the Arts Victoria website and on site in the Gallery and Josh is a most deserving winner.”
Heavens Gates is part of the free 2014 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, which closes tomorrow, Sunday 5 October 2014. For more information, visit www.indigenousartawards.com.au for details.
Image: Josh Muir with his work Heavens Gate – photo by Nigel Clements