Gallipoli Art Prize 2018 Winner
April 19, 2018
Steve Lopes wins the 2018 GALLIPOLI ART PRIZE with his work ‘Exposed Wood, Mont St Quentin
Sydney based artist Steve Lopes has won the 2018 Gallipoli Art Prize ($20 000 acquisitive funded by the Gallipoli Memorial Club) with his painting ‘Exposed Wood, Mont St Quentin ’ depicting the overgrown WW1 battlefield of Mont St Quentin on the Western Front where Australian forces fought. Lopes’ winning work along with thirty-two finalist works will be on public display at Club Bondi Junction RSL in Sydney from 19 April – 27 April, 2018.
In his accompanying artist statement Steve Lopes said “The painting was done after a trip last year to the battlefields of the Western Front with 10 other artists. I was particularly moved by the area of St Quentin where the Australian forces fought. On visiting I found some old trench areas and abandoned parts of the battlefield.” “At the end of 1918 Mont St Quentin was the German army’s last stronghold – overlooking the Somme River and the town of Peronne. Mont St Quentin stood out in the surrounding country, making it a perfect observation point and a vital strategic area to control. A key to the German defence of the Somme line, Lieutenant General Sir John Monash was keen to capture it and possess a valuable position.”
“It was captured by an Australian operation and is sometimes regarded as the finest achievement of the AIF. The fight included battalions from every Australian state. British Commander General Lord Rawlinson remarked that this feat by the Australian troops under Monash’s command was the greatest of the war.”
In 2017 Lopes travelled to the former battlefields of the Western Front in France and Belgium with 10 other well-known Australian artists including 3 previous winners of the Gallipoli Art Prize – Amanda Penrose Hart (2017), Idris Murphy (2014) and Euan Macleod (2009). He was invited to exhibit works in the subsequent touring exhibition ‘Salient – Contemporary artists at the Western Front’ (www.salientwesternfront.com)
that is currently on tour and will be exhibited in Sydney at the Anzac War Memorial Hyde Park in October.
Listen to Steve interviewed on ABC Radio National Drive with Patricia Karvelas .
click link
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2018/04/rnd_20180418_1843.mp3