Major art award a conversation piece

By ANNE BESTON

Months of planning and top secrecy surrounded New Zealand's biggest art prize but in the end it was anti-war protesters who nearly upset the event.

Launching the award at the Auckland Art Gallery yesterday, Prime Minister Helen Clark said she hoped the new $50,000 Walters Prize would foster debate and "conversation" about contemporary New Zealand art.

As she raised her voice over the protesters chanting anti-war slogans through a loud hailer outside, she said: "I see the war in Afghanistan has created some conversation outside the gallery."

Later, one of the protesters entered the gallery and shouted slogans.

The Walters Prize is named after Gordon Walters, considered one of New Zealand's pioneering artists and one of the first to use Maori motifs in his work.

That often sparked controversy over the use of Maori imagery by Pakeha artists but he is credited with influencing a generation of painters who followed him. He died in 1995, aged 76.

Gallery director Chris Saines said he would be happy if the creation of a new art prize caused controversy and discussion. The Walters Prize was based on Britain's influential Turner Prize, awarded by the Tate Gallery.

Artists will not submit work for the prize but will be nominated by a panel of four yet-to-be-named judges who remain secret until the announcement of the finalists next March 2002.

An expert international judge will decide the winner from four finalists.

The biennial prize is open to artists around the world but their work must be inspired by their experience of New Zealand.

Helen Clark said: "This is a major award and, like the Montana Book Awards does for writers, it will help to give public recognition to New Zealand's superbly talented artists."

The winner will exhibit at advertising company Saatchi & Saatchi's Tokyo headquarters. The company, with Ernst & Young, is a chief sponsor.