Absent artist makes a pile at arts awards

(+ Isay)

KELLY HODEL/ Waikato Times

WRAPPING IT UP: Judge Charlotte Huddleston looks at the winning work by Dane Mitchell.

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Annual winners of the Waikato Contemporary Art Awards have often been dismissed as a load of rubbish.

But this year there can be no arguments. That's exactly what the 2009 winning entry is: a pile of packaging rubbish tipped on to the floor of the Waikato Museum.

For those who enjoy great dollops of controversy with their art, Dane Mitchells' Collateral easily trumped the beer crates, soap dish photos and sexually suggestive etchings of previous years, when it was announced as the winner at last night's ceremony.

His entry yours for a mere $5250 consists of the binned wrapping from other award entries. Museum staff will need to be careful the janitor doesn't pick it up by mistake.

Further Mr Mitchell, an artist in residence in Berlin, has not even seen the masterpiece which has earned him $15,000. His entry consisted of sending a set of instructions to gallery staff requesting that they throw the packaging of all other entries into a pile and exhibit it as his work.

Awards judge Charlotte Huddleston, curator of contemporary art at New Zealand's national museum Te Papa, was smitten with it, and declared it the winner from a field of 283 entries and 43 finalists.

"For me it's the rubbish, the things they have been thrown away from the show," Ms Huddleston said. "He has made a work out of that.

"What I like about it is it is really quite smart, considering his situation in not being able to be here. He has dealt with it quite beautifully, I think."

Ms Huddleston described Collateral as "clever" and "cheeky". The names of other artists in the exhibition can be seen amid the packaging rubbish.

"It is going to be tough for people because it is a pile of rubbish. But that is what captured me like what a great idea." She said the exhibit had "a real material quality".

The Times asked her if she expected a groundswell of adverse reaction from less insightful viewers who failed to see anything beyond a pile of stuff ready to go in the incinerator.

"I am not expecting any reaction," she said. "But it will be a talking point."

Reaction was mixed among trustees of awards sponsor Trust Waikato.

"No comment," said Bruce Hosking. "And you can quote me on that". Clint Baddeley tried to keep a straight face. "Its a new concept, experimental," he said. "Potentially it is quite a commentary on modern art and modern society." John Kilbride said it would "create thinking".

"Art is meant to challenge," said Dianne Yates. "But I thought it was the remains of a relationship."

ISAY: That's not art! It's a common refrain, and one heard in the Waikato every year when the national contemporary art awards are judged. The winner was announced on Friday and we are giving you an opportunity to tell us what you think. Tell us the entry that makes you think ''that's not art!'. We'll tally up the entries - and see if we can't get the ''winning'' artist to tell you about his or her work.

Click here for a gallery of all the finalists (details about each entry can be found in the captions tab) and e-mail the Waikato Times at Isay@WaikatoTimes.co.nz with your views on the entries.