Melbourne, 5 December 2008
Eight emerging innovative artists have been awarded scholarships totalling $32,000 as part of the Siemens-RMIT Fine Art Award Scholarships program – now in its eighth year.
Chairman and Managing Director of Siemens Australia and New Zealand, Mr Albert Goller said, “Siemens values education, science, technology and above all, innovation. We support projects that contribute to innovative people realising their talents and potential, as is reflected through this longstanding partnership with RMIT. We are proud to sponsor these Awards.
“Since 1999, Siemens has invested nearly $300,000 in scholarships for the RMIT Fine Arts Awards, including an acquisition prize given to one of the scholarship recipients to purchase their artwork, as selected by a team of Siemens employees. After eight years, we have a unique and diverse collection of works that are of the highest quality and from some of Australia’s most progressive artists. These are on show at our Head Office in Bayswater and we are extremely proud of the collection.”
This year’s winning RMIT students are:
UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
Undergraduate Scholarship Awards of $2,000 for spending on travel go to:
- Bryony Crawford, from Bachelor of Art (Honours) – Painting, for her work ‘Ragamuffin’
- Beau Emmett, from Bachelor of Art – Sculpture, for the work “Seed Bed – Acconci’s Caravan”
- Carmenza Jimenez, from year three Bachelor of Art – Painting, with her work entitled ’Apartheid Harp‘
- Bettina Garnier, who is a first year Bachelor of Art – Painting student, for the computer based work ‘ME Video 123’
- Georgina Humphries, from Bachelor of Art (Honours) – Ceramics and Sculpture, with the work ’The Sketched Work-Site’.
The judges had a very difficult decision and would like to acknowledge the quality of undergraduate works by Di Ellis, Harry Metcalf and Shoshanna Jordan for honourable mention.
POSTGRADUATE AWARDS
The three Postgraduate Scholarship Awards of $7,000 each go to:
- Jeremy Bakker, Master of Art candidate, with the group of works ‘Alone Together, Cluster and Quiet’
- Susanne Pearce, Master of Fine Art student, for the work ‘Antecedents’
- Bruce Slatter, PHD candidate, with the three works ‘Displaced, Green Skip, and Offside.’
SIEMENS ACQUISITION AWARD
The Siemens Australia and New Zealand Acquisition Award valued at $1,000, as selected by Siemens employees, goes to Carmenza Jimenez, for her wall-based installation work in wool titled ‘Apartheid Harp’. This work will now enter the Siemens corporate collection.
Carmenza was born in Cali Colombia. Commenting on her winning work she said, “ ’Apartheid Harp’ is from the “Breaking the Wall” series of works, in protest against the instalment of the walls that separate Israel from Palestine, and the USA from Mexico.
“In my works I use the same geometric patterns formed by those monumental walls of separation to make my own personal vision. I use fragile threads and yarn instead of big concrete slabs, and instead of the mournful grey of the wall I use vivid colours.
“My work can be moved, crossed through and even broken. With them I want to represent the absurdness of these physical divisions that can be named ‘The 21st Century apartheid.’ “
The works of this year’s 43 finalists, including the eight winning entries, are on display at the RMIT Gallery, 344 Swanston Street, Melbourne until Saturday 13 December. RMIT Gallery opening hours are Monday to Friday 11am-5pm, and Saturday 2-5pm.
For further information, media enquiries and images please contact:
Vanessa Gerrans, Exhibition Co-ordinator, RMIT Gallery
Tel: (03) 9925 2686 Mobile: 0413 849 256
Email: vanessa.gerrans@rmit.edu.au