2006 Salon des Refusés People's Choice Winner announced
12 May 2006
The National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery has announced that Sydney artist, Gillian Dunlop is the winner of this year’s Holding Redlich People’s Choice for the Salon des Refusés.
Visitors to the S.H. Ervin Gallery voted Dunlop’s portrait of actor/director, John Gaden as the most popular work in the exhibition.
The announcement was made by Mr Ian Robertson, Managing Partner, Holding Redlich, Lawyers and Consultants, at a special function on Thursday 11 May at the National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, Sydney.
The Holding Redlich People’s Choice Award is voted by the many thousands of visitors to the exhibition. All artworks selected for the Salon are eligible to win. Holding Redlich is the principal exhibition sponsor for 2006 Salon des Refusés, donating the $2,000 prize to the winning artist.
Said Dunlop of the painting:
“'Can I paint you for the Archibald ?' is the most seductive line. Suddenly you have an entrée into people’s living rooms and their lives. You meet colourful characters like John Gaden, actor and director. I wanted to include his hand in the portrait as he is so expressive. John gesticulates freely and will often steal the scene."
Now in its 15th year, Salon des Refusés is one of the most popular art exhibitions held annually in Sydney. S.H. Ervin Gallery’s guest selectors choose 57 works from over 1500 official entries to the Archibald and Wynne Prizes for this year’s Salon exhibition.
The National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery initiated the Salon des Refusés in 1992. This was in response to the overwhelming number artworks submitted to AGNSW, but never viewed by the general public. The exhibition follows in the tradition and spirit of an alternative salon – art that guarantees to be witty, controversial and engaging.
The Salon des Refusés encourages discussion of painting, portraiture and larger questions about art and definitions of merit, as few other art prizes do.
Gillian Dunlop – Archibald Prize finalist, 2004 and Blake Prize finalist, 2003 has held solo exhibitions with James Harvey Gallery in 2002 & 2003. Her work is represented in private collections in the USA, UK, Canada & Australia.
Public viewing: until Sunday 14 May
