Moran Prizes 2011

Libaries are known for books. That is true of the State Library of NSW in Sydney, but this Libray also has other attractions which make it well worth while visiting. When I was in Sydney today I dropped in to see the current exhibtions the Library has that are open to the public. I was fortunate to see The Moran Prizes 2011, or full title "The Goug Moran National Portrait Prize and Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize"

This year a life-like painting of filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has won Australia's richest portrait prize. "Off Screen" is a painting of Baz Luhrmann, the director of the movies "Moulin Rouge" and "Australia", in a vulnerable moment, with his head in his hands. This painting has won its artist Vincent Fantauzzo $150,000.

Vincent Fantauzzo said "Baz comes across as a very confident person and a confident artist ... I got to see him at a time when he is really vulnerable and his guard is down."

Baz Luhrmann said a number of photographs were taken of him to use as the basis of the portrait painting "but of course that would be the image that Vincent chose. I was under incredible creative stress at that time."

This year Jack Atley won the photographic prize with his photo of former cricketer Steve Waugh with three-year-old Sarah Walker, who suffers from a rare lung disease. The picture, taken on World Rare Disease Day, shows Waugh leaning towards the young girl with his hands outstretched.

Jack Atley says the portrait highlights an important issue and some of his $100,000 prize money will go towards the Steve Waugh Foundation, which is helping to support Sarah. "The picture is really special to me because it shows a different picture of Steve Waugh. As we all know he is a legendary Australian cricketer and a hero on the field, but he's a much bigger hero off it."

Steve Waugh said the photo was taken during a private moment with Sarah.
"I just started talking to her and I was showing her a couple of pictures on my phone of my dog at home. She started to like that and that was when he took the photo. She's an amazing girl, she's dependent on oxygen 24-7 and just an incredible little girl who motivates all the people around her."

The Moran Prizes, the wealthiest photgraphic and portrait prize in the World. had more than 122,000 entrants across both categories. There is only a few more days left for people to see the portrait paintings and photos, as the free exhibitions end on 26 June.

For more informations see the web site:- http://www.moranprizes.com.au/