John Prince Siddon Selected as a Finalist in Sulman Prize

Art Gallery of NSW
John Prince Siddon has been selected as a finalist in the Sulman Prize for his thought provoking work 'Russia, why bomb hospitals and small farms'.
 
As John Prince Siddon paints, the TV hums beside him. Challenging traditional notions of Indigenous art, his psychedelic paintings address many of the urgent themes of our time, from the destruction of Indigenous landmarks to global warming and gun control. In this work, he grapples with the pain and plight of Ukrainian civilians caught in the web of war.
 
‘Many of our old people painted their lives, their own land, even animals. Well, I’m trying to do the same thing, to piece together every animal – North, South, East, West – trying to mix them up like a jigsaw…. I have been gathering information from watching the news on TV.’ – John Prince Siddon

 

A Walmajarri man, Prince challenges traditional notions of Indigenous painting. Combining diverse influences drawn from television, the traditional Kimberley craft of boab nut carving, desert iconography and the epic characters of Narrangkarni (Dreamtime), he creates a ground breaking style of painting and sculpture that is eclectic, gothic and psychedelic. His vibrant paintings, 3D printed, painted bull skulls and kangaroo hides explore his Country and history.

 

John Prince Siddon has been a finalist in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) at the Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018). He was also a featured artist at the Tarnanthi 2021 festival at the Art Gallery of South Australia. His solo exhibition ‘All Mixed Up’ at the Fremantle Arts Centre, presented in conjunction with the Perth Festival 2020, was heralded as the ‘stand-out exhibition’ of the festival by John McDonald of the Sydney Morning Herald. His works are included in the collections of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia and Artbank. His work is currently on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, North Building in their 'Dreamhome' exhibition.

6 May – 3 September 23