Last night Sydney-based artist Anne Zahalka was named winner of the 2023 William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize for her work Kunstkammer (2023).
Rhana Devenport (ONZM, Director, Art Gallery of South Australia) and Michael Cook (Brisbane-based contemporary photographic artist of Bidjara heritage) joined MAPh Director Anouska Phizacklea to select the winner and three Honourable Mentions from a shortlist of 66 exceptional works.
The judges comments:
'Anne Zahalka’s archival project is a mammoth undertaking documenting a lifetime of practice, both monumental and intimate, this work is rare and important.' — Rhana Devenport
'I was looking for works that created an emotional response and was amazed with the depth in the entire field. Winner Anne Zahalka’s work stood out given the huge scale she has produced that travels beyond the two dimensions.' — Michael Cook
'Anne’s Zahalka’s ‘Kunstkammer’ is a tour-de-force reflecting a practice that she has sustained for more than 40 years. This work challenges assumptions about photography and how immersive and experiential it can be on a grand scale. It invites you into the artist’s process and innerworkings in a way few artists have ever achieved.' — Anouska Phizacklea
Visit MAPh to view this work, alongside the other incredible finalists.
