23 Sep – 6 Nov 2011

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Portia Geach Memorial Award 2011



Winner, Kate Stevens, Indian Dream

Highly Commended, Michelle Dawson, Sparrow Man

  
SOPHIE CAPE, Master and Commander, mixed media on canvas, 208x286cm

SOPHIE CAPE WINS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD 2011

Sydney based artist Sophie Cape has won the Portia Geach Memorial Award People’s Choice with a painting of Captain Paul Watson.  Cape’s dynamic portrait of Paul Watson, captain of the Sea Shepherd, began with quick sketches done in an airport lounge.

Sophie Cape is emerging as one of Sydney’s most talented young artists. In a recent review of the Portia Geach Memorial Award exhibition, John McDonald described her work as “bold and audacious”.

The Portia Geach Memorial Award People’s Choice Award has been generously donated by Mrs Josephine Delacour.

Captain Paul Watson is the founder and director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and has more than two decades experience as Master and Commander of Sea Shepherd voyages that research, investigate, protect, defend and conserve the Earth's oceans.  He was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the environmental heroes of the 20th Century.

"I'm surprised and impressed that this work was voted for by the people. It is not a nice work, it is not pretty…it is raw and visceral and violent. I painted it with blood, bone and fat. My intention was not to simply portray the image of Paul that we all know from the media, but to try to expose the reality of the world he inhabits. I hope that in some way the exposure of this prize will spread awareness of his hopes and aims for not only marine life but for humanity itself. I am extremely honoured to be the recipient of the Portia Geach Memorial Award, People’s Choice Award," said Cape.

Cape leaves today for Europe, beginning with representing Australia at the International Academy of Art and Design in Wroclaw, Poland, where she will be exhibiting in the Prix d' Honneur for Drawing.  This will be followed by three months at the Storrier Onslow Studio Residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris.  The final part of her trip will be three months at the Hospiz Arlberg Residency in St. Christoph, Austria.