Contend for a prize

Attendees looking at artworks at the Gippsland Art Gallery’s spring season launch.

Photos: Tom Parry

Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye announcing the winner of the 2022 John Leslie Art Prize. Crowded house for art awards

Frank Mesaric receiving his award for Best Gippsland Work from Gallery director Simon Gregg and Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye. Tom Parry

THE winners of this year’s John Leslie Art Prize were announced as part of the Gippsland Art Gallery’s spring season launch on Friday, September 9. Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye bestowed the awards. First to be announced was Best Gippsland Work, awarded to Frank Mesaric for his painting titled ‘Velore Rd, Kilmany’. When asked by Cr Bye whether he wanted to make a speech, Mr Mesaric’s response was wry and unequivocal: “Definitely not.” But he did speak with the Gippsland Times regarding his win, divulging that the artwork’s inspiration came from a visit to the local tip. “I went out one Sunday morning to drop-off some garbage and, as I was driving out, I looked to one side and there was this fantastic arrangement of these old fridges,” Mr Mesaric said. “Everything about it said, ‘make a painting of this’ and it … wasn’t so much making a painting of a landscape, but almost a still-life in a landscape. “I just loved that arrangement.” When asked why he believed his work appealed to the judges, Mr Mesaric responded: “The only thing I can say is that it’s an honest piece as work, and that’s its only credential.” Gippsland Art Gallery director Simon Gregg was part of the three-person judging panel responsible for selecting the winner, alongside the gallery’s associate curator Melanie Caple and art historian Dr Sheridan Palmer. “Frank’s picture was really clever, we thought – it’s a kind of classical composition,” Mr Gregg said. He added: “Sheridan said it could have been a 19th-century romantic painting, except it had fridges in it.” “Those sorts of classical paintings would normally have had an antique ruin, like a Greek mausoleum or something crumbling in the foreground; Frank has put fridges in it instead, so it’s sort of a comment on our own times, that we are surrounding ourselves with rubbish,” he said. Mr Gregg said that it was a testament to Mr Mesaric that he could turn an “ugly scene” into something beautiful. “Most artists start with something that’s beautiful like a sunset or an ocean … and they’re trying to replicate that,” Mr Gregg said. “He’s actually replicated something that is totally mundane and everyday that we wouldn’t look at, so he’s getting us to look at the world around us differently, and I think that’s really clever.” Meanwhile, the major John Leslie Art Prize was given to a Central Victorian, Greg Wood, for his artwork titled ‘V34 Reimagining’. Mr Wood was not in attendance when announced winner by the Mayor, but did make an appearance at the gallery later that evening. Mr Gregg was full of praise for the piece. “There was something … mysterious about it, maybe more so than the other pictures,” he mused. “Sheridan said the painting seemed to be listening to the viewer. “She loved the sense of intimacy about it; she thought it was just paint, that it had a kind of classical grace or beauty to it. “I know some people will look at it and think, ‘Oh, why did they pick that?’ “I would encourage people to just spend a little bit of time looking at it … just being with it and just listening to it, because it will start talking back to you. “It’s amazing how it has that effect.” The biennial John Leslie Art Prize is considered one of Australia’s most prestigious prizes for landscape painting. A total of 456 entries were received for this year’s prize from all states and territories of Australia, with artists having the option to enter as many as two paintings each. In 2022, a total of 50 paintings from 47 artists were shortlisted, including from eight Gippslanders. The announcement of the prize coincided with one of the most successful launches in the gallery’s history, with about 300 people attending the exhibition’s opening. Mr Gregg on the night said the venue was close to capacity. The 2022 John Leslie Art Prize exhibition will be displayed at the gallery until November 27. More information about the shortlisted works can be found at: www.gippslandartgallery.com.

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Local artist Klara Jones (right) and husband Frank check out one of Klara’s submissions. Frank’s tshirt said it all.

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