Redlands local Dylan Mooney, 27, has won this year’s Brisbane Portrait Prize taking home the $50,000 Lord Mayor’s Prize for his artwork Still Thriving.
The artwork is a double portrait of Mr Mooney and his friend, Sam Ramsey, in an embrace described by the Chief Judge Suzanne Cotter as “an embrace which speaks of love, closeness, and warmth.”
Mr Mooney said it was an honour to be awarded the Lord Mayor’s Prize.
“I’m very grateful to receive this award, just to be a finalist within the Brisbane Portrait Prize is an honour in itself,” he said.
“To be shown with so many other amazing artists from Brisbane is a blessing. There are so many wonderful portraits here in this year’s prize, so to be chosen as the winner is truly special.”
Ms Cotter, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia said she was immediately drawn to Mr Mooney’s artwork.
“Dylan’s portrait is a work which immediately captures your attention,” Ms Cotter said.
“It depicts two people who are embracing; are they friends, lovers, or brothers? Does it matter? It’s an embrace which speaks of love, closeness, and warmth.
“Dylan’s Yuwi (Mackay) and Torres Strait Islander (Meriam Nation) background are central to this work. The flesh colours and the colours of the Wattle flowers used are the ochres of the Yuwi region, materials that connect the artist and the subjects to country, to community and to culture.
“The painting speaks of personal experience and the power of love. Their embrace is very intimate. And while it fills you with warmth, it also speaks of a determination which is an affirmation of presence, identity, and self-representation.
“We are moved by that sense of human dignity and strength, and our right to be who we are, and to be seen. Altogether, intellectually, conceptually, and visually it makes for a beautiful and very empowered work,” she said.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner commended all the winners in this year’s cohort on being selected from over 600 incredible entries.
“Over the past five years, the Brisbane Portrait Prize has continued to shine a light on the people that make our city so incredibly unique,” he said.
“I encourage residents and visitors to seek out the final works displayed proudly across the city and the suburbs and learn more about the stories behind Brisbane,” he said.
Other category winners include
- Hayden Pressley – Next Gen
- Liam Nunan – Packers Prize
- Fiona Lowry – Sylvia Jones Prize for Women Artists
- Robert Mercer – Digital Award
- Zoe Porter – Performing Arts and Music Award
- Guy Lobwein – Metro Arts Experimental Artists Award
- Huon Kane and Elizabeth Reed – Emerging Artists Award
Brisbane Portrait Prize Director Anna Reynolds said she is delighted with the variety of works this year.
“The growth we’ve seen in the Brisbane Portrait Prize this year has been phenomenal, in terms of numbers, artistic maturity and variety,” Ms Reynolds said.
“It’s wonderful to see the growth in the creative community around the BPP and the increasing public engagement.
Image: Still Thriving – Dylan Mooney. Digital illustration with Yuwi ochre and ink, 84cm x 119cm
