PublishedThames & Hudson, August 2013 |
ISBN9781741740868 |
FormatSoftcover, 80 pages |
Dimensions25cm × 21.1cm × 0.7cm |
Since its inception in 1993, the Dobell Prize for Drawing - named in honour of the distinguished Australian artist William Dobell - has been the pre-eminent award for drawing in Australia. This book celebrates 20 years of the prize and presents a view of contemporary Australian drawing through 40 works (winners and additional works selected for the collection from the exhibitions) by 30 artists ranging from traditional practice to works that push the boundaries of drawing.
The prize has always promoted discussion and debate about the nature of drawing and rather than impose a set definition of 'drawing', the appointed judge for each year determined what was selected. As the inaugural judge Arthur Boyd stated in 1993, "If the artist says it's a drawing, it's a drawing". The most enduring legacy of this acquisitive prize has been the formation of the Dobell Australian drawing collection at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which now comprises over 40 works including the winners and additional works acquired from each of the annual exhibitions. The extraordinary breadth of contemporary Australian drawing represented in the collection is reflected in this publication.
