Notable Awards: Jack Lanagan Dunbar
Joining the illustrious line up of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship is 2019’s winner Jack Lanagan Dunbar, who took the coveted prize for his series Pantheon.
Words: Andrew Frost
Portraits: The artist
Now in its 21st year, the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship is not just a desirable prize for an artist to win. The three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and $40,000 to pursue art education in Europe is also considered an indicator of a promising early career. Using funds first set aside by Beryl Whiteley to the memory her late son, the artist Brett Whiteley, the prize regularly attracts serious painting talent. Among past winners are Ben Quilty, Alan Jones, Amber Wallis, Mitch Cairns, Tom Polo and Natasha Walsh.
Joining this illustrious line up is 2019’s winner Jack Lanagan Dunbar, who took the coveted prize for his series Pantheon. The series combines personal experiences and memories with references to ancient mythology and figures from antiquity, resulting in paintings that explore abstraction and mark making.
Like many of Australia’s art awards, the Brett Whiteley Scholarship is judged by an artist. For 2019, that role was undertaken by painter Gemma Smith. “Jack’s paintings are sumptuous and poetic,” she says. “I was drawn to the way his paintings are at once deeply thoughtful and spontaneous. Full of allusions to classical mythology, while simultaneously caught up in the moment, with the immediacy of mark making.”
Working across a variety of forms and media, Dunbar’s work explores what he describes as a combination of the “…tension between materiality and time with an eye on history, whimsy, archaeology, the classical, Romanticism, humour and tragedy”. He uses a variety of materials in his paintings, including patina, acrylic paint, vinyl-based paint, chinagraph and lacquer on copper sheets.
Of this variety of approaches, Smith says that the artist “…uses a confounding combination of materials – the result is fascinating and alchemical. He has already developed a strong art practice and I’m sure that an extended period in Europe will have an extraordinary impact on his work.”
This article was originally published in Art Collector issue 91, JAN – MAR 2020.
Cool Hunter Predictions: Nabilah Nordin
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCool Hunter Predictions: Maggie Brink
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCool Hunter Predictions: Aida Azin
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCool Hunter Predictions: Meg Porteous
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCool Hunter Predictions: Sofiyah Ruqayah
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCool Hunter Predictions: Dean Hunter
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCool Hunter Predictions: Dhambit Mununggurr
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCool Hunter Predictions: Yona Lee
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCollectors Love: Dani Mckenzie
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCollectors Love: Dord Burrough
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by Felicia CindyagathaCollectors Love: Jelena Telecki
/in JAN - MAR 2021 /by MaddyMathesonOur writers look at the artists who have caught the attention of collectors in the past year and achieved sell-out shows.
Survey: Have you ever refused to sell an artwork?
/in OCT – DEC 2020 /by Zeyneb MohammedWe asked: have you ever refused to sell an artwork?
Melbourne gallery announces new collecting initiative
/in APR - JUN 2021 /by Rosy LeakeMelbourne’s MARS Gallery to host a night geared at educating and inspiring young art collectors.
Biennale of Sydney announces 2022 iteration
/in APR - JUN 2021 /by Rosy LeakeThe Biennale of Sydney 2022 reveals the title of its 23rd iteration along with the first 59 participants.
Angela Tiatia awarded Ian Potter Moving Image Commission
/in APR - JUN 2021 /by Rosy LeakeAngela Tiatia awarded Ian Potter Moving Image Commission.
NIAF returns to Sydney in July 2021
/in Uncategorized /by Charlotte MiddletonThe National Indigenous Art Fair returns to The Rocks in early July, marking the beginning of NAIDOC Week 2021.