Loribelle Spirovski has won the Naked and Nude Art Prize 2021 for her "disarmingly intimate and personal work" entitled 'Moving House'.
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The art prize announcement was made via Manning Regional Art Gallery's social media channels and website on Saturday, August 28.
For the first time in the 30-year history of the prize, judging took place remotely and the winner was announced online as stay at home orders remain in place for NSW, a result of the current COVID outbreak.
Art gallery director, Rachel Piercy said regardless of the current restrictions the gallery team is so glad to be able to continue to support the creative community.
"While our doors might be closed we were committed to seeing Naked and Nude promoted to both our local community and further afield digitally through our website and social media channels.
"We're delighted with the breadth of people we were able to reach, it's wonderful exposure for the artists but it's a really lovely thing to be a part of, for those in lockdown," Rachel said.
The theme 'Naked and Nude' is an evocative platform for creative inspiration, and artists delve into representations of the human form.
With a history dating back to ancient times across many cultures, the exposed human figure is one of the most enduring themes in the visual arts and remains relevant to artists across all disciplines, Rachel said.
The prize winner Loribelle Spirovski, has been a finalist for the Archibald Prize three times and has featured in many exhibitions around the world.
Loribelle was born in the Philippines before immigrating to Australia when she was nine years old where she lives in Sydney today.
When I paint...I intuitively draw from diverse sources of inspiration which show a past that continues to live in my present, whether through religious imagery and storytelling, or the feeling of being an alien in a foreign land
- Loribelle Spirovski, winner of the Naked and Nude Art Prize 2021
Due to current NSW public health orders it was not possible to bring the judge, Wendy Sharpe, from Sydney, to the Mid Coast so for the first time in the 30-year history of the prize, judging took place virtually.
A virtual walk through was conducted with Wendy to complete the judging.
In announcing 'Moving House' as the winner for Naked and Nude Art Prize 2021, Wendy highlighted the obvious intimacy between the subject and artist.
"This painting is a disarmingly intimate and personal work, the work is more naked than nude, both painter and sitter have an intimate understanding of each other."
Wendy also highly commended works from two other artists, Nick Stathopolous with the work 'Alone in the half-light' and Dagmar Cyrulla's work 'Grateful'.
Three other commended works mentioned were Tyler Arnold 'Self Portrait with kitchen knife', Mica Pillemer 'Closing In', and Nicole Kelly 'Ubique'.
The lucrative event carries a $30,000 acquisitive prize, with the winning entry acquired by the Friends of the Gallery and donated to the Manning Regional Art Gallery permanent collection.
"We'd like to extend our thanks to Dr Philip Walkom and Mrs Dusty Walkom OAM, gallery patrons and major sponsors of the prize since its inception," said Rachel.
The Naked and Nude exhibition continues until Sunday, October 10 at the Manning Regional Art Gallery, with the team hopeful the public will be allowed to go in and experience it.
For more information about and other great Art Gallery events, visit mrag.midcoast.nsw.gov.au follow the Gallery on Facebook.
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