OWEN LEONG wins the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award

Image: Owen Leong, Mudra, 2014, pigment print on archival paper

Artereal Gallery congratulates OWEN LEONG on winning the 2015 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award. The prestigious $20,000 acquisitive award was announced last night at the Gold Coast City Gallery and was awarded to Leong for his work Mudra.

A photographic self portrait, Mudra depicts the artist holding plaster casts of his own hands in the form of mudras. In the artist's right hand he holds the karana mudra, a powerful gesture for dispelling negative energy, while in his left he holds the gyan mudra, a symbol for opening oneself to knowledge. The doubling of hands, both real and cast, suggest grasping at a symbolic and spiritual language as a form of healing. Cloaked in black, out of the artist's hooded jacket erupts black prismatic mineral that forms a mirror-mask protecting the wearer and reflecting the world back onto itself. Manganite has the healing power to let go of attachment and control, and to recognise that you are only responsible for your own actions and not for the actions of others. 

The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award is one of Australia's most important annual surveys of contemporary Australian photographic practice and is presented annually by the Gold Coast City Gallery. This year's award was judged by Natalie King, Curator, Writer and Senior Research Fellow at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne with Owen Leong's work being selected as the winner from amongst 58 finalists. Previous winners of this award in recent years include Shaun Gladwell (2014), Liam Benson and Justine Varga (2013), Eugenia Raskopoulos (2012) and Darren Sylvester (2011).

The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award can be seen at the Gold Coast Arts Centre until 31 May 2015. 

To see a catalogue of available works by Owen Leong please click here.

OWEN LEONG // selected as a finalist in the Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Photography Award 2015

Image: Owen Leong, Mudra, 2014, archival pigment print on cotton paper, 120 x 120 cm, edition of 5 + 2 AP

Artereal Gallery artist Owen Leong has been selected as a finalist in one of the most important annual surveys of contemporary Australian photographic practice, the Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Photography Award 2015.

The artist has been selected for his artwork, entitled 'Mudra', which formed part of the artist's exhibition Bloodmilk which took place at Artereal Gallery in December 2014. 

Owen Leong explains his intention behind 'Mudra': A mudra is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Sanskrit, the word mudra means seal, and is a spiritual gesture made with the hands and fingers. In this self-portrait I hold my own hands cast in the forms of mudras. In my right hand I hold the karana mudra, a powerful gesture for dispelling negative energy, while in my left I hold the gyan mudra, for opening oneself to knowledge. The doubling of hands, both real and cast, suggest grasping at a symbolic and spiritual language as a form of healing. Cloaked in black, out of my hooded jacket erupts black prismatic mineral that forms a mirror-mask protecting the wearer and reflecting the world back onto itself. Manganite has the healing power to let go of attachment and control, and to recognise that you are only responsible for your own actions and not for the actions of others.

The Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Photography Award exhibition takes place 28 March - 31 May 2015 at Gold Coast City Gallery and has been judged by Natalie King, (Curator, Writer and Senior Research Fellow, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne).

ANNE MACDONALD AND ANNA CAREY ACQUIRED BY THE GOLD COAST CITY GALLERY...

Anne MacDonald_Party no. 3_2012-13_fine art ink-jet print_110 x 160 cm_edition of 5

Anna Carey_Pacific Moon_2012_digital print_edition of 5_100 x 150cm

Artereal Gallery would like to congratulate Anna Carey and Anne MacDonald both of whom are finalists in the 2013 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award and have subsequently had their respective works Pacific Moon and Party no.3 selected for acquisition.

Anne MacDonald's exhibition Party is currently on view at Artereal Gallery until 27 April 2013.

LIAM BENSON WINS THE JOSEPHINE ULRICK AND WIN SCHUBERT PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD!

Liam Benson_The Opal Queen_2012_Pigment in ink on cotton rag paper_edition of 5 + 2 AP’s_146.5 x 146.5cm (Photograph: Jasmine Robertson)

Artereal Gallery would like to congratulate Liam Benson on winning the 2013 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award.

The prestigious $20,000 award was announced tonight at the Gold Coast City Gallery and was jointly awarded to two artists - Liam Benson and Justine Varga.

Now in its 13th year, the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award is considered one of the most important annual surveys of contemporary Australian photographic practice. This highly anticipated award, with a total $30,000 in prizes and acquisitions, is a highlight of Gold Coast City Gallery’s exhibition program. From close to 300 entries, this year’s guest judge acclaimed New Zealand photographer Anne Noble selected 65 finalists before narrowing the award down to the two winners.

Commenting on Liam Benson's winning work Anne Noble described The Opal Queen as "a striking contribution to the evolving genre of performative self-portraiture which is a remarkable constant in contemporary Australian photography. I find this a deeply moving image that is at once tender and politically charged. It achieves this through exquisite resolution of light, surface and the intensity of human presence. It speaks with humour and intelligence to the complexities of personal and national identity."

To see a catalogue of available works by Liam Benson please contact the gallery.

JOSEPHINE ULRICK AND WIN SCHUBERT PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

Congratulations to Svetlana Bailey, Liam Benson, Anna Carey, Anne MacDonald and Katie Sorrenson all of whom are finalists in the 2013 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award.

Now in its 13th year, The Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award is considered one of the most important annual surveys of contemporary Australian photographic practice. This highly anticipated award, with a total $30,000 in prizes and acquisitions, is a highlight of Gold Coast City Gallery’s exhibition program. From close to 300 entries, this year’s guest judge acclaimed New Zealand photographer Anne Noble selected 65 finalists.

The winner of the 2013 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award will be announced on Saturday 6 April at the Gold Coast City Gallery.

Liam Benson_The Opal Queen_2012

Katie Sorrenson_For All Tomorrow’s Parties (diptych) _2012

Anne MacDonald_Party no. 3_2012-13

Svetlana Bailey_10/17_2010

Anna Carey_Pacific Moon_2012

SIMONE DOUGLAS AND ANNE MACDONALD FINALISTS IN THE JOSEPHINE ULRICK AND WIN SCHUBERT PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD...

Anne MacDonald_Plush Rabbit (Cherish)

Simone Douglas_Ever III & Ever VII (diptych)

Congratulations to Simone Douglas and Anne MacDonald, both of whom are finalists in the 2012 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award.

The winner of the $20,000 prize will be announced by this years guest judge,  Kon Gouriotis (Director, Australian Centre for Photography) on Saturday 31 March. The exhibition of finalists can be seen at the Gold Coast Art Gallery from 31 March - 13 May, 2012.