Tauranga artist Israel Randell. Photo: Supplied.
Tauranga Art Gallery Toi Tauranga, in partnership with the Venetta Miles Trust, has announced the winners of the 2020 Miles Art Award.
A big crowd of friends and family attended the event on March 13 to support the 40 finalists, and they waited with excitement to hear the announcement of the winners from guest judge Sarah Hudson.
To her surprise, Israel Randell was named Supreme Award winner. She received the award and a cash prize of $10,000 for her work Wahi Ngaro, 2019, a striking installation of electroluminescent wire.
The multidisciplinary artist experiments with moving image, multi-media installation and sound. She's completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries and is working on a post-graduate diploma in Maori Visual Arts at Massey University.
"This is the first time I've entered the Miles Art Award, or any award for that matter, so I'm definitely a newbie to all this," Israel says.
"I was extremely surprised by the win. Wow, you have no idea. I was so stoked and so uncomfortably awkward by all the attention. It was a little overwhelming but it's so great."
Winning the award means a lot for the young artist, as she says artists often make work and pour lots of money and effort into it, even if it never sees the light of day.
"It's both a vulnerable and exciting position to put work out into the world, and when you receive validation, it's really rewarding. A lot of amazing artists don't get validation and although the recognition is so great, I'd still make art nonetheless."
She explains that Wahi Ngaro refers to the hidden realm, an in-between space.
"The triangle represents the wharetangata, which is a womb space and to me, this symbology refers to that moment between being and non-being," she says.
"An in-between space where there is still infinite potential. These triangles also reference whakapapa (genealogy) and are used throughout taaniko patterns."
Originally from Hamilton (Tainui, Ngati Kahungunu), Israel studied in Auckland for a while before moving to Tauranga to have her baby boy and be closer to her family.
She also works as an instructor at East Coast Paddler, a stand-up paddleboarding company in Mount Maunganui, and teaches life drawing classes.
"I'm currently doing my masters as well, and I'm a mum, so the juggle is real."
Israel manages it all because she loves variety.
"My dream is to be a fine art lecturer in universities and dabble in art writing and media-based things. I also have a podcast called Making Waves which I also do on the side," she says.
Israel says she thinks the Miles Art Award show with all the finalists' work is an excellent exhibition.
"It shows that the Bay is really unique and diverse, and I love that. I also think Sarah Hudson choose some amazing work that is provocative, and I like that a lot about the show."
Apart from winning, Israel was also excited to be showing in a public gallery for the first time and about meeting Sarah.
"She is literally one of my favourite artists and I love her work with Mata Aho Collective. In all, March has been a stellar month so far," Israel says.
"I'd just like to extend the biggest thank you to my family who helps me juggle this crazy lifestyle, my friends and all my tutors past and present. I literally wouldn't be here without the help of all these people. This award is for all of them too and all the mana wahine who will come after me."
2020 Miles Art Awards guest judge Sarah Hudson is the curator of Te Koputu a te whanga toi, the Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre, and her works have been exhibited in galleries and at film festivals both in New Zealand and overseas.
About Israel, she said, "This artist has created a surprising, edgy work that grounds us deep down into the bones of this land. I enjoy the subtle sound element of the work which I read as screaming into the void.
"Entering an installation piece into an open competition is a bold move, the striking visual impact of Te Korekore and its strong conceptual foundations rooted in matauranga Maori has resulted in a very moving experience for the audience."
When announcing the Miles Art Awards winners, Sarah said she was impressed by the broad range of creative works entered this year. She chose winning works that were "moving, edgy, politically-minded and bold".
Tauranga Art Gallery director Alice Hutchinson agrees, and says it was a diverse display of the talent and passion of artists who currently live in the Tauranga district and the wider Western Bay of Plenty region.
"A total of 99 entries were submitted for consideration in this year's Miles Art Awards, and 40 finalists were selected. The artworks submitted have never been exhibited previously in a public exhibition."
Miles Art Award 2020 Winners
Supreme Award: Israel Randell, Wahi Ngaro, 2019.
Incubator Emerging Artist Award: Adrienne Ranson, Cloud, Rock, Mountain No.2, 2019.
Ethel MacMillan Award: Brylee Courtney, Black Arena, 2019.
Tauranga Mayor's Award: Kevin McCardell, Plight of the Bumblebee, 2020.
Friends of the Tauranga Art Gallery Award: Zig Beatnik, Anarchist, 2018.
The only award still left to be won is the People's Choice Award, which is open for nomination by the public. Unfortunately, Tauranga Art Gallery is now closed to the public as part of the response to Covid-19. The gallery team will continue to follow recommendations and updates from the Ministry of Health.
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