Jacquie Meng is a finalist in the Churchie Emerging Art Prize

Image courtesy of Jacquie Meng
Wednesday 27 July 2022

The churchie emerging art prize 2022 finalists exhibition opens at Brisbane’s Institute of Modern Art (IMA) on Saturday, 30 July 2022. The exhibition offers a spirited look at the current moment through the distinct works and insightful voices of twelve emerging visual art practitioners working across Australia.

The official opening and prize announcement will take place at the IMA on Friday, 2 September 2022. Guest judge Sebastian Goldspink, Sydney-based independent curator, founder of influential ALASKA Projects, and curator of the 2022 Adelaide Biennial Free/State, will announce the winners at the official opening and online via livestream, including the winner of the $15,000 major prize.

Now in its 35th year, ‘the churchie’ has evolved into one of Australia’s leading prizes for emerging artists, elevating our next generation of contemporary artists through a prize pool of $25,000 to support their careers at this critical moment.

The 2022 exhibition brings together the work of twelve finalists selected from across the country, curated by Brisbane’s own Elena Dias-Jayasinha in a role supported by Armistead ART Consulting. 

"While the finalists grapple with the complexities of contemporary life, a sense of hope permeates many of the works presented in this year's exhibition, and after a difficult few years, a bit of hope may be just what we all need," said Dias-Jayasinha.

The cutting-edge artworks encompass bee colonies, knitwear, and visual illusions as well as painting, sculpture, and video. Ideas that resonate throughout the finalist entries are: sustainable practice, notions of place, systems of authority, and cultural preservation and identity.

The 2022 finalists are:

  • Darcey Bella Arnold (VIC)
  • Emma Buswell (WA)
  • Jo Chew (TAS)
  • Kevin Diallo (NSW)
  • Norton Fredericks (QLD)
  • Jan Gunjaka Griffiths (WA)
  • Jacquie Meng (ACT)
  • Daniel Sherington (QLD)
  • Linda Sok (NSW)
  • Lillian Whitaker (QLD)
  • Agus Wijaya (NSW)
  • Emmaline Zanelli (SA).

 

"'the churchie' always offers insightful and refreshing perspectives on the contemporary moment. This year Elena Dias-Jayasinha has created a poignant and engaging exhibition with the works of the twelve finalists," said IMA Director Liz Nowell.

"The finalists offer generous perspectives on their cultures, experiences, and awareness of their place in the wider world," Nowell said. "We are proud to present another edition of this important prize and to highlight the incredible talent of the next generation of Australia’s contemporary artists."

Prizes to be announced by judge Sebastian Goldspink on Friday, 2 September include the $15,000 non- acquisitive Major Prize sponsored by BSPN Architecture, a Special Commendation Prize of $5,000, sponsored by Fardoulys Constructions, as well as two $1,000 Commendation Prizes sponsored by Madison Cleaning Services.

A People’s Choice Award of $3,000, also sponsored by Madison Cleaning Services, will be awarded by popular vote at the conclusion of the finalists exhibition and one lucky voter will receive a night away thanks to Spicers Retreats.

‘the churchie’ finalists exhibition is free to visit and will be on display at the IMA until Saturday, 1 October 2022.

Finalist, Jacquie Meng, is an alumna of the School, completing her Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) (First Class Honours)/ Bachelor of Art History and Curatorship in 2021.  Jacquie was born in Hangzhou, China and works with painting, sound, and installation. Her work redefines diasporic cultural identity beyond national and geographical specificities, rather seeing it as unfixed. Through consideration of posthumanism, performativity, and the migration of objects and imagery between cultures, Meng breaks down the binaries of East/West, real/imagined, and human/non-human. This often involves a fusing of Chinese mythology and folklore from her upbringing with memories, fictions and contemporary aesthetics.

Updated:  27 July 2022/Responsible Officer:  Head of School/Page Contact:  CASS Marketing & Communications