Young Wintec students claim top prizes at National Youth Art Awards
The 14th annual New Zealand National Youth Art Awards, hosted by the Waikato Society of Arts, celebrated emerging talent at its opening event held at ArtPost Galleries in Hamilton late July.
This year's competition saw a staggering 300 entries cut down to 93 finalists vying for 10 coveted awards.
Among the standout winners were Wintec students Stevie Fiske and Olivia Connolly, both aged 20, who clinched top honours in their respective categories.
Fiske, won the 20-25 age category with their painting titled "Life". Inspired by Craig McClure's exhibition "Thought Crimes" at Ramp Gallery, Fiske's work impressed judges with its "character" and ability to "clearly say something".
"It felt like I was in a movie and the lights were all pointed at me. It was unbelievable," Fiske said of their win.
Currently in their second year of a Bachelor of Contemporary Art, Fiske encourages other young artists to enter competitions, noting, "it's a good way to get your name and image out there, even if you don't win anything"
Fellow Wintec student Olivia wowed judges with her clay sculpture "In The Event That We Decay".
The piece, glazed with iron oxide, explores humanity's relationship with the natural world.
"If the tables were turned, would we be used for the growth of nature?" Olivia pondered in her artist statement.
Olivia, who shares her work on Instagram as @oliart.x, was surprised by her win, given the high calibre of entries.
"I was so happy, and all the hours dedicated to moulding little mushrooms, lichen and crystals felt so worth it," she said.
Both winners stressed the value of participating in such events.
"Worries about not making it as a finalist should never stop you from giving something a go," Olivia said.
Tamsin Green, Wintec Senior Academic Staff Member for School of Media Arts, Ramp Gallery curator and competition judge, said these national awards captured the diverse emerging talent of young artists and provided them with a platform to share their work and be celebrated for that work.
“This prize is especially important to Wintec ākonga as it is a locally supported prize that introduces our students to a range of sponsors and arts organisations. It is an opportunity for them to showcase their work in a professional context and celebrate with whānau.”
Tamsin said she would encourage people to enter for the experience of entering an art competition.
“Whether you win or not it is an opportunity to prepare your work via documentation and professional descriptions for your work. As a curator I am always on the lookout for emerging artists.”
She said the judges were very impressed with the range of work and the skills, ideas, and confidence of New Zealand’s young artists – especially the younger age ranges.
“When making our decision we thought not only about technical skills and confidence, but about the ability of our young artists to create something unique and expressive. We were particularly impressed with these works because they were bold and individual pieces,” she said of Stevie and Olivia’s work.
Learn more about studying art at Wintec here.
