Archibald Prize 2010 - seen through different eyes

March 27, 2010

Archibald Prize 2010 - seen through different eyes

I arrived early to the Art Gallery in the Domain in Sydney, and whilst waiting to go into the Art Gallery for the Archibald opening I wandered through the glorious Botanical Gardens and was so refreshed from the experience. It is amazing to have this oasis in the middle of a city. I am so grateful. These are some pictures.

I was an invited guest of Nafisa, an artist who won the Packing Room Prize of the Archibald 2010 and also by Glenn A. Baker the subject of that winning prized work, a dear and special friend.

It was a delightful experience to be in amongst the elite of the art world . There were also many who were there to just be the first to have access to these great pieces of art and sculpture. I must admit there were many pieces that left me wanting, and many, many pieces that left me breathless. I don't know if I can sum up in words the feelings that some of those works evoked. I think that is one of the most beautiful aspects of great art, it moves you.

I cannot profess any knowledge of art other than I know what I like/ love and know what I don't.

It was such an unusual experience, but I loved the vibe, and will just let the pictures speak for themselves. I must admit, that whilst my pictures by Craig Peihopa appears on these images, it is in NO way there to detract from the actual artworks themselves, which these pictures do not do adequate justice to.

I wont comment on the other winners and finalists, other than to simply show a little of what I saw and experienced on Friday night. The picture with a lady on the left hand side of the picture where Glenn is standing on the right is the stunning daughter of Glenn, Cairo. It was good to catch up with her, she has sure grown and matured over the last 18 months since I last saw her.

Edmund Capon - Director and Chief Curator of the Art Gallery of NSW

Steven Lowy, President of the Art Gallery of NSW and sits on the board of many companies and foundations.

Representing the ANZ bank, this gentleman whose name eludes me was the man giving out the prize winning cheques.

Steven Lowy, President of the Art Gallery of NSW and sits on the board of many companies and foundations.

Sulman Prize winner Michael Lindeman accepting his $20,000 cheque. The Sir John Sulman Prize is awarded for the best subject painting or genre painting or mural project by an Australian artist.

Viola Dominello winner of the Trustee's watercolour prize

The Archibald Prize is one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious art awards. JF Archibald's primary aims were to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Since its inception in 1921 the prize has been awarded to some of Australia's most important artists, including George Lambert, William Dobell and Brett Whiteley.

The Wynne Prize is awarded to the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours or for the best example of figure sculpture, by an Australian artist. Sam Leach won both the Archibald and the Wynne, becoming only the third person in the history of the prize to achieve that.