Love wins at art show

Love triumphed at this year’s ANL Maritime Art Prize with the winning entry going to a coded semaphore message summing up the exhibition’s theme.

The prize was announced on October 6 with Victoria’s senior naval officer Captain Mark Hill being one of only a few present capable of reading the message.

“We can say love,” Capt Hill read.

The winning work Untitled (International Code Signal) was by Melbourne artists Lisa Radford and Sam George who were awarded the $15,000 first prize sponsored by ANL Container Line.

It was the first time a female artist, or in this case two female artists, had won the prestigious award.

The maritime art show has been conducted at Docklands’ Mission to Seafarers in Flinders St since 2002 and has raised about $180,000 towards the mission’s charitable works in that time.

Lisa and Sam said their work was a natural progression from their earlier material.

“We both like maritime flags and their use for communication,” Sam said. “Yes we were surprised we won.  Lisa won $2 from a scratchie once and I won a voucher for a shop that closed down two weeks after winning.”

The pair plan to use their prize money to travel to Europe. Lisa will go to Paris and Sam will go to Germany.

Lisa and Sam suggested the message they have presented in their work is one for all of the seafarers and visitors to the mission.

“We both hope to spend some time on the sea past the heads on a boat with the people who were part of our win,” Sam said.

Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, Greg Creek described the work as a clever interpretation of the theme “The relationship between humanity and the sea”.

Norman Quinn was awarded the ASP Group “Best in Traditional Maritime Art” ($5000) and Sharon West was awarded the Bendigo Wealth Emerging Artist Award, ($5000).  

The Mission to Seafarers ANL Art Prize and Exhibition World Trade Centre (WTC) People’s Choice Award attracted 1237 votes (10 votes from Docklands residents) from the viewing public.  Geelong artist Phil Suter won the WTC $2000 award.

Mission to Seafarers Victoria CEO Andrea Fleming said: “The mission is thankful to all of the contributing artists and sponsors.  The award attracted over 180 entries this year and we are thrilled with the outcome.”