Congratulations to Wendy Dawes, Winner of the 2022 School of Art & Design Drawing Prize, with her work suspension.digital.

https://suspension.digital is an ongoing project questioning the interaction between collective and individual memory within the modern archive.

Using rotoscopes drawn with charcoal on redundant suspension files, Dawes references and compares public memories like September 11 with memories from her private archive, like a child jumping on a trampoline. Owing a debt to South African artist William Kentridge's work in animation, Dawes uses the dialectic of stillness and movement as a technique to present memory not as an inanimate, static concept, or perfect replication, but a flawed and continually active space.

Despite the ability of this website to exist as its own entity, the work is intended to be seen together in both digital and analogue form. As media theorist, Wolfgang Ernst said, "In a digital culture of apparent, virtual, immaterial realities, a reminder of the insistence and resistance of material worlds is indispensable."

Wendy is awarded a $1,500 cash prize and an annual membership to Canberra Contemporary Art Space.

Congratulations also to Henry Shawcross, awarded a Highly Commended with an annual membership to Canberra Contemporary Art Space.

Thank you to our 2022 Guest Judge Janice Falsone, Director of Canberra Contemporary Art Space (CCAS).  Janice joined CCAS as Director in March 2022 and brings to the role a deep passion for contemporary visual art along with considerable experience in managing arts organisations. Janice was the Director of PhotoAccess and Manager of the Manuka Arts Centre at a time of significant change (2014-2018). She was also Gallery Manager at Australian National Capital Artists (ANCA) (2012-2014), and Program Manager at M16 Artspace (2010). Janice also has experience in private sector support for the arts, having worked at the Australia Business Arts Foundation (2009-2011) - now Creative Partnerships Australia - and as National Partnerships Officer at the Australian Institute of Architects (2011). A graduate of Queensland College of Art, Griffith University (First Class Honours degree in Fine Art), Janice has served in a range of curatorial and arts management roles across both the Canberra and Brisbane arts sectors including arts advocacy organisation, Queensland Artworkers Alliance (2006-2007).

With over 500 votes this year for the People’s Choice Award, congratulations to the Winner, Letitia Glenn with her work ‘Letting Go.’ Thank you to everyone that voted!

The Drawing Prize showcases and celebrates the breadth and depth of drawing practice within the ANU School of Art & Design. The Prize is an annual event open to all current students enrolled in one or more courses in Semester 2 at the ANU School of Art & Design. The student Drawing Prize was originally established and is supported by Jan Brown, former long serving member of staff and Head of Foundation at the ANU School of Art and an important Australian artist.

For more information please email soad.gallery@anu.edu.au