The Mandorla Centre for Inner Peace has announced the 44 artists selected as finalists in Australia’s most significant religious thematic art prize, the 2016 Mandorla Art Award.
Presented in Perth every two years, the Mandorla Award seeks to encourage contemporary artistic interpretations of the Bible and a different theme is chosen for each exhibition.
Artists from across Australia submitted works responding to this year’s theme, The Resurrection, before the 44 finalists were chosen.
Artists have used various mediums to express their interpretation of The Resurrection, including painting, video, sculpture, photography and textile.
In order to assist the artists with the theme, a number of readings and reflections were provided for use via the Mandorla Art Award website.
Some of the featured artists include well-known performer and writer, Anh Do; previous winner, Paul Kaptein; and celebrated Indigenous artist, Sally Morgan.
The Mandorla Art Award Finalists Exhibition is open to the public from Saturday, 16 July to Sunday, 24 July at Linton & Kay Galleries in Perth.
Precious and rare religious texts from the Kerry Stokes collection will also be on show during the exhibition.
Award winners will be announced on Friday, 15 July, at the opening event. All artworks, except the major prize winner, will be available for sale.
Gallery hours are 10am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and 11am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. An artist’s talk is scheduled for Saturday, 16 July at 2pm.
After the exhibition in Perth, a selection of works will tour to the New Norcia Museum and Art Gallery, where the People’s Choice Award winner will be announced.
A Retrospective exhibition celebrating 30 years of the Mandorla Art Award is currently on display at various St John of God Health Care campuses in Perth.
It features all the previous winners from 1985 to 2014, including Julie Dowling, Brian McKay, Ron Gomboc, John Paul and Concetta Petrillo.
The Mandorla Art Award is part of the City of Perth Winter Arts Festival program and is made possible through the generosity of sponsors, including major sponsor, St John of God Health Care.
Additional sponsors include the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, the Benedictine Community of Holy Trinity Abbey New Norcia, Friars Servants of Mary (Servites) Australia Delegation, St Joseph’s Subiaco, Uniting Church in the City, Anglican Diocese of Perth, Uniting Church in Australia – Synod of Western Australia, the Bible Society Australia, the Leeuwin Estate Charitable Foundation and the City of Perth.
For a full list of finalists, please visit www.mandorlaart.com.