NorthTec proud of Wallace Art Awards finalists.

Media release: NorthTec proud of Wallace Art Awards finalists. (23/08/2012)

NorthTec is proud to have two students announced as finalists in the prestigious annual Wallace Art Awards.

Bachelor of Applied Arts graduate Kristin Hatland’s finalist piece “The Bastille” is an individual photograph being a part of her “Plato’s cave” series. Kristin’s work is motivated by the nature of the “State”. She believes that the State plays a significant role in society, and that philosophy has much to say in regards to this. Her work “The Bastille” represents the coercive power of the State; it’s ability to imprison and punish. The darkness and shadows in her work introduce the aspect of Plato’s Cave taken from Greek philosophy, which illustrates the illusion that veils the reality, mirroring the State’s power in distorting the truth. Kristin is thrilled to be a finalist for such a prestigious award. “I can’t really believe it, I had to read the email two or three times to believe it that I am one of the finalists. I am very very grateful,” she said. Kristin is a currently working on the next instalment of “Plato’s Cave” through a new series of photographs.

Established artist and current Year Two student of the Diploma in Applied Arts at NorthTec’s Rawene Campus, Louisa Geddes, has also been named as a finalist. Her work “The Dragonia Series” is a tryptic in acrylic on board, containing three works “The Encounter”, “The Conflict” and “The Resolution”. In her paintings, Louisa wishes to remove the observer from the mundane to the magical and mysterious. She finds it important to share her muse in the narrative, utilising charm, colour and chaos.

“Art is very much my life,” said Louisa, “My tutor at NorthTec, Sue Daly, has been an amazing influence on my work and I look upon her as my mentor, but, in saying that, all of the tutors at NorthTec are very supportive.” Louisa’s other accomplishments include having her own working studio gallery, aptly named “Geddes Gallery”, situated in The Old Fell Boat Sheds in Kohukohu.

Lindsay Marks, Programme Leader for Arts and New Media at NorthTec, is pleased to have two students short-listed for the awards. “The level of work being produced by our students and graduates is extremely high, and we are proud that they are continuing to develop their skills by being selected in such a prestigious national art competition,” he said.

The Wallace Art Awards, established by avid art collector, Sir James Wallace, are in their 21st year. Hailed as the largest annual art awards of their kind in New Zealand, the Wallace Art Awards aim to support, promote and expose New Zealand’s contemporary art and artists. There are a number of awards given in the genres of painting, sculpture, video, drawing, print, and unique photography.

The coveted Wallace Arts Trust Paramount Award includes a six month residency at the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ICSP) in New York. The ISCP is the premier residency-based contemporary art centre in the United States for emerging to mid-career artists and curators from around the world.

This year the Wallace Art Award entries will be judged by Warwick Brown, Derrick Cherrie and Sam Mitchell. The Awards ceremony will be held at the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre in Auckland on Monday 3 September.

Picture: Kristin Hatland

Picture: “The Dragonia Series” by Louisa Geddes

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NorthTec is the Tai Tokerau (Northland) region's largest provider of tertiary education, with campuses and learning centres in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Rāwene, Kaikohe and Kaitaia. NorthTec also has over 60 community-based delivery points from Coatesville in rural Rodney to Ngataki in the Far North.

ENDS

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