Winner of Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2009 announced

One person’s rubbish is another person’s art – an artwork resembling the contents of an upturned wastepaper bin has been announced as the winner of the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2009. Currently in its ninth year, the award is renowned for the challenging and often controversial entries it attracts.

This year’s winning entry ‘Collateral’ by Auckland artist Dane Mitchell was selected from amongst 43 finalists and 283 entrants from all over the country, with the announcement made at an award ceremony at Waikato Museum on Friday night.

As the winner Mr Mitchell received $15,000 prize money sponsored by Trust Waikato. Award judge Charlotte Huddleston, who is a well-known curator and essayist, and is currently the Curator of Contemporary Art at Te Papa Tongarewa the Museum of New Zealand, said Mr Mitchell had drawn on his real life experiences to create a thought-provoking piece of art.

“Dane's work responds well to his current situation, addressing, as is typical for him, the interplay of art, culture, anthropology, archaeology and his own situation within these systems.”

Mr Mitchell’s work is currently being exhibited alongside the other 42 finalists’ at Waikato Museum until 24 January 2010