The History of the Mandorla Art Award
A Renaissance in Christian Art
The Mandorla Art Award for contemporary religious art is Australia’s most significant thematic religious art prize, attracting some of Australia’s finest artists since its 1985 inception.
This achievement represents the fulfilment of the dream of a small group of committed Christians, who call themselves “The Mandorla Centre of Inner Peace”. They were concerned by the overwhelmingly secular nature of contemporary art and so set about reviving an interest in and patronage of religious art, creating what can be likened to a renaissance of the genre.
Today sees the award enjoying ecumenical support and patronage from the Catholic and Anglican churches. Notably, the Benedictine monks of New Norcia are involved with this Mandorla exhibition as they have been with each of the 14 exhibitions to date.
A unique aspect of the Mandorla is that artists are asked to interpret a passage from the Bible, Old or New Testaments, encouraging them to think laterally and with sensitivity. It is through this articulation that viewers are challenged to embrace diversity and to view the world through different perspectives and sensibilities.
In 1992, the award became biennial. Each award sees around thirty works selected as finalists with the main winner (acquired by Mandorla) and two Highly Commended winners selected from this group. All art works are eligible for the People’s Choice prize.
Most past exhibitions have been held at the Moores Building, Fremantle. Every exhibition has a second hanging at the famous New Norcia Abbey gallery in the popular tourist destination of New Norcia.
Now for some “name-dropping”! Winners include John Coburn (1992); Nigel Hewitt (1994); Brian McKay (1986, 2002); and Julie Dowling (2000) who was named the most collectible artist in Australia shortly after her win. Another notable winner was the recently deceased and much beloved Western Australian artist, Michael Kane Taylor (2004).
Judges have been worthy of the artistic calibre and include Rachel Kohn, ABC radio presenter with a special interest in religion; Giles Auty, art critic of The Australian at the time; Robert Juniper, celebrated WA artist; and the late John Stringer, high profile curator in both Australia and the US, latterly curator of the Kerry Stokes Collection.
This year’s judges – Dr Christopher Crouch, Sr Jill O’Brien and Berenice Rarig — continue this fine tradition, bringing spiritual conviction, international experience and a wealth of knowledge of the visual arts.
The 15th Mandorla Art Award in 2010 is a landmark year. An acquisitive youth award has been introduced, with the aim of recognising the diverse talents of young Australian artists and encouraging them to explore the religious art genre. The winner will receive the St John of God Health Care Prize for an Emerging Young Artist of $5,000.
In recognition of the calibre of artists that the award attracts, the main prize — the St John of God Health Care Prize — has been doubled to $20,000, while the prizes for the two Highly Commended and the People’s Choice winners have increased to $2,000 each.
22 May 2010