The National Gallery of Victoria today announced that the recipient of the 2012 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award is Marian Hosking.
The prize of $30,000 was awarded to Ms Hosking for her work Clearing.
Ms Hosking said, “It’s an honour to be chosen for an award that celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary Victorian craft and design. I’m overwhelmed to be selected from such a stellar group and appreciate that craft is visible within the National Gallery of Victoria.”
A generous legacy of the late Colin Rigg (1895–1982), the Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award is arguably the most prestigious award offered to a contemporary practitioner in Australia with a prize of $30,000 provided through the Cicely & Colin Rigg Bequest, managed by ANZ Trustees.
For this year’s Award, fourteen Victorian artists were asked to develop works that explored the theme of ‘containment’.
Tony Ellwood, NGV Director, said, “The Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award reflects the NGV’s continuing support for, and commitment to, contemporary design. We warmly congratulate Marian on her outstanding achievement.”
Teresa Zolnierkiewicz, Head of Philanthropy, ANZ Trustees, said, “The late Colin Rigg was inspired by the Felton Bequest to create a gift in his own Will to develop the arts in Victoria. Colin Rigg’s vision to foster the arts has been achieved through the Cicely and Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award. This award, designed by the trustees of the Rigg Bequest in partnership with the NGV, serves as a demonstration of the power of philanthropy to nurture and support artists and designers, who are vital to a thriving society.”
“Eighteen years after its inception, the Cicely and Colin Rigg Bequest continues to support contemporary Victorian design. Marian’s work highlights the tremendous talent of Victoria’s creative community and we congratulate Marian on her success,” said Ms Zolnierkiewicz.
This year’s works were judged by Robert Reason, Curator, European and Australian Decorative Arts at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
“This year’s works robustly explore the expressive possibilities of containment through glass, ceramics, metalwork and found materials. Hosking’s quiet, evocative piece rewards repeat visits as shifting materials, their construction and juxtapositions slowly unravel under her skilled hands. Her work pushes the boundaries of her practice and uses the notion of containment to explore the Australian landscape,” said Mr Reason.
The other participating artists for 2012 are Garry Bish, Robin Bold, Emma Davies, Mark Edgoose, Neville French, Titania Henderson, Richard Morrell, Ian Mowbray, David Pottinger, David Ray, Owen Rye, Yhonnie Scarce and Katherine Wheeler.
Amanda Dunsmore and Emma Mayall, Exhibition Curators, said that this year’s group of artists represents a diverse mix of emerging and established practitioners, whose work collectively presents an exhibition that challenges ideas about the notion of ‘containment’.
Containment: 2012 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award is on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 23 November 2012 until 21 July 2013. Open 10am–5pm, Tues–Sun. Admission is free.
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The Award and exhibition are supported by the Cicely & Colin Rigg Bequest, managed by ANZ Trustees.