Renowned Western Australian contemporary artist Olga Cironis, has won the seventh annual $15,000 BankWest Contemporary Art Prize.
BankWest Managing Director, Rodger McArthur, announced the winner at the BankWest Contemporary Art Exhibition Presentation at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art.
Ms Cironis's,work was chosen from a field of 136 established and emerging West Australian artists including well known artists such as Eveline Kotai and Janis Nedela along with a younger generation of artists including Tori Benz, Nicole Huitson and Jean Astbury.
Entitled Essence, the artwork will be automatically acquired for the BankWest Contemporary Art Collection that now contains more than 500 works.
Mr McArthur said Ms Cironis's work was outstanding and showcased the creativity evident in Western Australian contemporary art.
"Contemporary art in Western Australia is alive and well," Mr McArthur said. "Ms Cironis's work combines an unusual mixture of media, in this case packing tape and feathers, to create a very beautiful and emotional work.
The judges said Essence showed the evolution of an idea that Ms Cironis has been working on for some time, into a very lovely and evocative piece.
Unusually, a highly commended was also awarded this year to Aboriginal artist Ngarra for "Warrungadada country 2007", an acrylic on linen, which weaves a narrative through nine vividly coloured panels.
Mr McArthur said BankWest was pleased to be able to support and encourage artists in Western Australia.
"BankWest has been a strong supporter of West Australian arts over the years and events like this help forge a strong relationship between the arts, corporate Western Australia and the wider community."
Now in its seventh year, the BankWest Contemporary Art Prize has been awarded to a number of high-profile Western Australian artists, including Trevor Vickers, Alex Spremberg and last year's winner, Lisa Wolfgramm.
"The BankWest contemporary art collection continues to grow as a result of this competition, and we take great pleasure in developing a diverse West Australian arts community as well as having a dynamic collection that graces the walls of BankWest and HBOS Australia offices," Mr McArthur said.
Members of the judging panel said the entries were once again of an extremely high standard.
A special prize of $2,000 in art supplies will be awarded to the winner of the People's Choice Award at the close of the exhibition on 25 November 2007.
The public can go online and vote for their favourite painting at www.bankwest.com.au/artprize and go in the draw to win $250 in a BankWest account.
"I encourage everyone to visit the exhibition and vote for their favourite work as part of the People's Choice Award," Mr McArthur said. "This is a great opportunity to see some quality works by West Australian artists."
The exhibition will run until 25 November 2007 at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) in the Perth Cultural Centre, James St, Northbridge.
