‘Apu Kaz’ by Alick Tipoti

A large scale work depicting a mother and baby dugong has won the Grand Prize Acquisitive section of the prestigious Silk Cut Award for Linocut prints, sponsored by Forbo Flooring and Duroloid.

Created with an eco-friendly Forbo product known as Silk Cut Linoleum, ‘Apu Kaz’ by Alick Tipoti is a 220 x 114cm masterpiece of detail reflecting the artist’s Torres Straight Islands heritage and the subtlety of textures to be found in many Forbo linoleum products.

The Silk Cut Award 2008 is one of the most important printmaking awards in Australia with selected works purchased by the Silk Cut Foundation and exhibited in the Silk Cut Collection at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA).

Commenced in 1995 by the Silk Cut Foundation and Forbo Flooring, it is the only national print award to have a category dedicated to students, providing print artists of all ages with the opportunity for their work to be recognised on a national stage.

Aside from display at the NGA, the prize pool includes a choice of a trip to Amsterdam worth $7000 including return air fare, 10 days accommodation and $1000 spending money or a monetary prize of $8000 for the winning open section entrant.

The student section sees four successful entrants win a Silk Cut Award trophy and certificate while the overall first place prize winner receives a $2500 cash prize for their school’s art department.

Silk Cut Linoleum is a highly responsive medium that allows the artist to create intricate and innovative prints. It is made by Forbo from ecologically friendly renewable raw materials of linseed oil, rosin, wood flour, limestone and cork.

The Silk Cut Award exhibition, including winners’ works, will be displayed at Glen Eira Council Gallery until 21 September.   

This year’s Silk Cut Awards esteemed panel of judges includes Alisa Bunbury, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Gallery of Victoria; Roger Butler, Senior Curator of Australian Prints, Drawings and Illustrated Books at National Gallery of Australia; and Martin King, Senior Printer with the Australian Print Workshop.

For more information on the Silk Cut Award 2008 please visit http://www.silkcutlino.com/ and for more information on Forbo visit www.forbo-flooring.com.au

Glen Eira City Council Gallery is located at corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads, Caulfield, Victoria, phone 03 9524 3333.