"Culture Heist"

The annual Archibald prize ( $100,000) for portraiture is always (we hope) a controversial event and one of Sydney's most fascinating artistic events. Everyone should get along to the Art Gallery of NSW to see this year's exhibition and take the time to explore this wonderful gallery.

Our photo collection shows some of the entries. The top picture is the portrait of TV journalist Lisa Wilkinson which won the Packer's Prize where Gallery workers decide on their favourite. To date no Packer's Prize has won the Archibald.

 (right : a rejected portrait of  Yassmin Abdel-Magied)

And this year's Archibald did not fail to explode into a controversy. It started off with little comment until renowned artist John Olsen weighed in lambasting the winning choice. Others like artist Tim Storrier have made similar comments.
(The winner is the middle painting below Lisa, a portrait by Mitch Cairns of his partner)
Now journalist Judith White who is a member of the Art Gallery Society has joined the outcry with a must-read article.
Whispers has to agree with White on one point : we badly miss the presence of former director Edmund Capon who was lured from the V&A in London and has positively breathed amazing life into the wondrous but stuffy art gallery

 

 John Olsen says Archibald Prize win is 'the worst decision I've ever seen'

 Behind the Archibald controversy by Judith White

 

Is that a very young John Olsen (left)  protesting the Archibald in years past?

Barry wins the Archibald

 Louise Hearman's portrait of Barry Hunphries has won the 2016 Archibald portrait contest

Finalists 'Pat  by Alan Jones * Peter Weiss by Nicholas Harding* Deng by Nick Stathopolous* Self by Benjamin Aitken

                                                           Wendy Whiteley by Natasha Bieniek

Winner of the Wynne Prize:Spring Frost by Eiloth Gruner

           The Archibald Portrait exhibition is now open at the art Gallery of NSW : entry is free

Are Charles & Camilla In Town?

The couple below were spotted at the Black & White Committee's Masquerade Ball held last Saturday night at the Art Gallery of NSW.


200 hundred guests perused the Galleries exhibition of Australian masters like Rupert Bunny, Russell Drysdale and George Lambert sipping cocktails before dinner in the main auditorium. Sponsored by Emirates, the funds raised go to Vision Australia's Children's Services.

 And as always, the Derby mock horse race where young girls reel in wooden horses was extremely popular with much hooting and shouting after the firing psitol was fired by Browyn Bishop MP who flew up from Canberra for the night.

Spot The Difference #1

A new occasional series where we delve into the exciting world of the arts and ponder whether photography may influence art or vica versa.

Paintings by Polish artist  Marek Hospodarsky who is fascinated by the "banality of life". His work can be found at Saatchi Online, motto : Discover art, get discovered.
















Works by noted Australian photographer Petrina Hicks whose work can be found in the Art Gallery of NSW or The Stills Gallery in Paddington.  See more at Petrina's website.