Helene Grove: Queensland Painter Bags the 2013 Portia Geach Memorial Award
A Queensland based artist, Helene Grove, won the annual 2013 Portia Geach Memorial Award. The Award was established to honor Australian women portraitists and Grove has been awarded for her excellent work of her painting, self portrait 'Getting on' among the 58 other finalists.
The Trust Company, the trustee of the award's establishment made the declaration of the winner in Sydney, on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2013. The event was conducted at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, in the Rocks area.
Grove, the winner amongst the several Australian contemporary female artists has been awarded with $30,000 prize and she has reported to feel humbled by the honor and appreciation of her work. Her work is a portrait created on Belgian linen in acrylic which illustrates her sitting in a blue dress with a cat in her lap. It is a depiction of advancing age.
The prestigious award was first given in 1961. It was established in memory of Portia Geach, a brilliant artist at that time. Florence Kate Geach, sister of Portia Geach, in an earnest attempt, constituted a trust to commemorate the accomplishments of Australian women artists for creating a portrait that is inspired by the life of some man or woman eminent in the field of science, letters and art. Initially the prize along with the award was for $12,000.
Grove, who has recently claimed the title of Top Australian woman Portraitist, started her career in art in 1990s. Prior to this, she was in the field of medicine. Her switch over has surely brought her laurels with her commendable work. Her career in art has been quite satisfactory as she has been to the finals of this award twice before winning it, in the years 1995 and 2007.
According to her an award like this plays a pivotal role of motivating the artists' diligence and efforts. "The award plays such a prominent role in promoting the efforts and endeavours of female artists," she said.
The judges who commemorated the work of Australian female artists were the director of the S.H. Ervin Gallery Jane Watters, artiste Ben Quilty and Dr. Lindy Lee who is the senior Lecturer at Sydney College of the Arts.
Grove's work has been appreciated greatly. "This quietly, contemplative work displays great sensitivity and poignancy with the realization of advancing age. The artist's reductive approach to the process means that every brushstroke is considered and demonstrates her maturity as a painter," Jane Watters said, who was the judge at the event.
The exhibition commences on Oct. 4, at S.H. Ervin Gallery displaying the work of the 58 finalists.