Hazelhurst Arts Centre has crowned Martin King as the winner of the gallery's Art on Paper Award 2021 for his work ''strangerlands II'.
This large graphite drawing includes references to past representations of landscape, popular culture, ancient manuscripts and the graphic arts.
The Melbourne-based artist won $15,000. There were 93 finalists vying for the title.
Judges included Head of Drawing at the National Art School, Maryanne Coutts, and artist and curator, Glenn Barkley, who said it was a memorable piece.
"We kept coming back to this work," he said. "It got stronger and stronger each time we looked at it. It has real complexity, clarity and ambition. It is a mix of stories and techniques, using and quoting the art of the past. It has scale and intensity, where the work is not just large for scale's sake, but because the work demands it.
The Young & Early Career Artist Award of $5000 was given to Rachel Farag for 'Trick of the Light' [Skinned Jesus].
"This work by Rachel Farag is deceptively simple, but as you look closer it incorporates both religion and everyday objects, like salt and pepper. It is a wonderful melange of poetic and expressive storytelling by the artist." Ms Coutts said.
The Friends of Hazelhurst Local Artist Award of $5000 was given to Stephanie Monteith for 'Night Drawing'. "Stephanie has made three beautiful graphite drawings of very quiet objects at home, that speak so well to the year we have just had," Ms Coutts said.
The installation crew also chose their favourite for the Preparator's Residency Award, which has this year been given to Kurt Sorensen for his work 'All things must have an end #1,'. He will receive a four-week residency at Hazelhurst.
Visitors to the exhibition can vote for The People's Choice Award of $1000, which will be announced on April 4.
The Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award promotes excellence and innovation in the field of art on paper. This year Hazelhurst received entries from over 700 artists from throughout Australia.
