From 683 entries and 29 finalists, Sylvia Ken from the Amata community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands in South Australia has taken out the $50 000 Wynne Prize for 2019. Her painting ‘Seven Sisters’ refers to the story of significant sites where her family are traditional owners.
Sylvia explains ‘‘I listen to the old people’s stories and I think about these stories and then the ideas come for my paintings… I listen when they are talking about tjukurpa and telling creation stories, and when they say to me, “No, you should paint this way, the Seven Sisters”.’
The judges also awarded the Roberts Family Prize to Nongirrna Marawili for ‘Pink Lightening’ and the Trustees’ Watercolour Prize to Robyn Sweaney for ‘Perfect uncertainty.’
‘Seven Sisters’ – along with shortlisted works for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes – will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW from May 11th – September 8th.
The Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman finalists exhibition
May 11th – September 8th
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Road, New South Wales