THE Remagine Art Prize for 2024 has announced its victor, as Lane Cove’s own artist, Phoebe Stone, secures the top accolade with her oil and pastel masterpiece, “Serene Sea,” earning her a $5,000 reward. Stone found inspiration during a stroll along Sydney’s Berry Island Reserve’s Gadyan track, where her gaze wandered from the native foliage to a looming oil tanker.
“Its hull was faded black and rusty red in hue. The irony of the name of the tanker ‘Serene Sea’ really struck me. An oil tanker, serenity? A ‘Serene Sea’? As I walked on, I couldn’t help but muse that this might be a plea from the workers of the ship; a serene sea, a safe passage home,” said Stone.
“Yet as thoughts about excessive consumption, endless industries devouring fossil fuels, rising temperatures and sea levels swam around my head, I realised, this isn’t just their plea, it’s ours too. If we aren’t careful and if we do not keep our seas serene, in a relatively short space of time, no one will be able to walk this track.”
The annual Remagine Art Prize, a collaborative effort between Hornsby Shire Council and Hornsby Art Society, challenges artists to confront the crisis of waste and overconsumption through their creations. This year’s theme, “Crossroads of Consumption,” urged participants to explore how individual choices impact global sustainability.
Chris Gleisner, hailing from Mascot, received the Highly Commended title and a $2,500 prize for her poignant artwork, “The Sixth Extinction: A Short-List.”
James Birch, a talented artist from Mount Ku-ring-gai, clinched the Local Artist Award and $1,000 for his piece, “SCRAPS.” Meanwhile, Coco X Huang, a resident of Waitara, secured the Youth Award and $1,000 for her mixed media creation, “In a Drop of Water…”.
Hornsby Shire Mayor, the Honourable Philip Ruddock AO, commended the finalists for their dedication to environmental advocacy.
“These artists have expressed their passion for sustainability and the environment through each of these unique, thought-provoking works”.
