Emma Buswell takes out the Invitation Art Prize for 2022
Emma Buswell has been named winner of the 2022 Invitation Art Prize (IAP) – the City of Joondalup’s most prestigious visual arts competition.
The announcement was made at the launch of the IAP exhibition, which runs until Sunday 23 October at Westfield Whitford City.
Ms Buswell received $25,000 in prize money for her artwork, titled The sometimes luxury handbag and other suburban fables, which uses hand-woven glass beads, embroidery, natural pigment and polymer and food materials on paper. The City will also acquire the artwork for its art collection.
Ms Buswell is an artist, curator and designer fascinated with systems of government, economies and culture, particularly in relation to constructs of place, identity and community. Her current work takes inspiration from the matrilineal hand craft and knitting techniques passed down from her grandmother and mother, as well as a contemplative investigation into the nature of kitsch, ephemera and national identities.
Currently working as the Fremantle Arts Centre Exhibition and Engagement Coordinator, Ms Buswell has run a variety of artist-run spaces across Perth and Fremantle and exhibited and curated exhibitions across Australia, as well as being a resident at Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Como, Italy in 2011.
In 2020, Ms Buswell’s work was the focus of a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, and this year, she won the Churchie Emerging Art Prize’s Special Commendation. She also recently generated internet buzz with her iconic Mark McGowan kebab jumper.
Judges said Ms Buswell’s artwork caught their attention for its “humorous engagement with the specific context of the prize, and the shopping centre as a site”.
“Buswell’s eloquent expansion of a personal memory is instantly relatable, endearing and clearly attracts the fascination of shoppers as they pass by,” they said.
“Buswell creates an interesting tension with the subject of the ubiquitous and convenient supermarket roast chook, and a carefully realised one-of-a-kind artwork.
“The extraordinary labour involved in the production of this work is intensive, considered and elevates the beaded object to a high fashion status.”
The judging panel for the 2022 IAP was:
- Barry Keldoulis, CEO, Art Fairs Australia and Fair Director, Sydney Contemporary;
- Yabini Kickett, Noongar Yok, Multidisciplinary Artist and Curator; and
- Annika Kristensen, Visual Arts Curator, Perth Festival
Now in its 24th year, the IAP is an acquisitive art prize open to professional Western Australian artists, and is acknowledged by the visual arts industry as one of the major contemporary visual art prizes for professional artists in the state.
Joondalup Deputy Mayor Christine Hamilton-Prime said it was not an easy task to whittle down the final 29 names from a list of 169 expressions of interest received from Western Australian artists wishing to participate in the IAP this year.
“Thankfully we had three experts to help us do so, and I’d like to thank Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, Kelly Fliedner and Barry Keldoulis for shortlisting the artists for the exhibition, and our IAP judges for their time, knowledge and expertise,” Deputy Mayor Hamilton-Prime said.
“When Joondalup became a City in its own right in 1998, it was considered a priority to cultivate a modern, urban and culturally-enriched environment with a quality, contemporary visual art program.
“This prestigious art prize has helped us achieve this aspiration, and continues to do so.
“In 2022, the IAP offers a glimpse into what’s happening right now in WA’s visual arts scene.
“I congratulate Emma on her success along with the other 28 artists selected to exhibit at the IAP, and express our gratitude to Westfield Whitford City for hosting.”
Fellow artist Jack Ball was also awarded a $3,000 commission to create an artwork for the City’s Inside-Out Billboard Program. This artwork will be displayed outside the Joondalup Library and Joondalup Courthouse.
Members of the public can vote for their favourite artwork in the Popular Choice Award whilst visiting the IAP exhibition at Westfield Whitford City.
The winner of the Popular Choice Award will be announced in November and will receive a cash prize of $500.
2022 Invitation Art Prize Exhibiting Artists
Jack Ball, Bori Benko, Dan Bourke, Emma Buswell, Christophe Canato, Claudia Caporn, Mel Dare, Danielle Freakley, Fiona Gavino, Pascale Giorgi, Luisa Hansal, Brent Harrison, Kirsten Hudson, Christopher Hummel, Afsaneh Khoramshahi, William Leggett, Tim Maley, Leonie Ngahuia Mansbridge, Elisa Markes-Young, Ant Muia, Annette Nykiel, Holly O’Meehan, Sid Pattni, Amy Perejuan-Capone, Andy Quilty, Bruce and Nicole Slatter, Lea Taylor, Sioux Tempestt and Kay Wood.