The 57th Blake Prize for Religious Art

The judges were impressed with the high calibre of works entered this year and in particular, noted the strength, range and quality of the photo media entries in this year’s finalists’ exhibition.

The winning work, A Local Girl Comes Home, by David Tucker, exudes a simple, positive, joy.  The procession and movement in the piece enhances the joyful, yet placid nature of the sculpture.

The work references Vedic cultures but also speaks to a universality that reflects an equality between female and male deities often found in Indian religious imagery .  In this sense, the work speaks to the particularity of Indian imagery and to the universal story of women returning home to give birth. The symbolism incorporated into the work, such as the references to the teacher, scholar, musician and worker of the earth, together with the lotus flower, books, flute and cow, are all important elements that provide spiritual and religious depth.

The Highly Commended work by Kay Alliband is a playful, delightfully quirky work that also displays a sense of joyousness and celebration of multiculturalism.  The judges felt the work was religiously potent connecting the themes of childhood and birth at the time of Christmas.  In particular, the judges wished to note the attention to detail and accomplished craftsmanship of the figures.

This year’s John Coburn Emerging Artist Award winning entry by Peter Daverington, highlights the strength and high quality of his draughtsmanship.  There is a sense of intense movement which is of great importance to Jallaludin Rumi and the Dervish tradition.  The judges felt this work was a real homage to Rumi and these Sufi traditions.

 - Dr Kathleen McPhillips, Lachlan Warner, Blake Society Director – Nick Vickers