Jumaadi winning the John Couburn Prize

Judges Comments

The Judges were deeply impressed by the diverse intentions of the artists who submitted – everything from an expression of lived experience, of spiritual commitment/journey, through to work that investigated the problems of religious ideology as they are played out through politics and culture in global life.

The work by Jumaadi was awarded the inaugural John Coburn emerging artist award. Like a broken- up and laid out manuscript, this painting engages us with multiple scenarios. Evoking the multiplicity of experiences and giving vignettes in the confusing lives of its actors, it references much in art as it does in life which causes one to pause, consider, and yet enjoy its street -wise comic -book illustrations , as well as its deft intelligence. Viewing this work, like judging the Blake prize itself ,was like sitting in a gallery of restless stories. One judge commented: "I was moved by the way artists retell old memories [differently] and weave new stories with old strands, inviting me to wander across storyworlds and songlines. My hope is that those restless stories inspire restless retellings.

"http://www.blakeprize.com.au/exhibitions/whisper