Advertiser Contemporary Art Award winner Blackwood artist OAKEY piece ‘Portal’ opens doors

A Blackwood artist has won the Advertiser Contemporary Art Award as this year’s SALA Festival comes to a close.

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August 30, 2024 - 8:30PM

Blackwood artist OAKEY, winner of The Advertiser Contemporary Art Award, with her work titled Portal. Picture: RoyVPhotography

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Blackwood artist OAKEY says that winning this year’s $5000 Advertiser Contemporary Art Award for her sculpture, appropriately titled Portal, will open up other doors for her career.

The prize was among 10 presented at Friday night’s SALA (South Australia Living Artists) Awards at Immersive Light and Art as part of the month-long festival, which finishes on Saturday.

Blackwood artist OAKEY, winner of The Advertiser Contemporary Art Award, with her work titled Portal. Picture: RoyVPhotography

Portal, which forms an arch from plaster legs covered in paperbark, was created in response to an 1800km motorbike journey OAKEY made for a four-day solo retreat in Yaegl Country, NSW.

“This involved sleeping on the forest floor within a 4m circle: alone, no food, only water and a mosquito net and tarp for protection,” the UK-born artist said.

“Portal represents … the bridge between consciousness and unconsciousness, the shifting of day to night and my merging with the forest.”

Blackwood artist OAKEY, created Portal in response to a 1800km motorbike journey. Picture: RoyVPhotography

OAKEY, a former state and national cricketer, said winning the Advertiser award was a “significant milestone” that validated her planned artistic direction, which includes a long-term project to create multiple versions of Portal.

“Each work will explore different materials and techniques and will be inspired by unique, immersive experiences, the first of which will be an upcoming International Artist Residency in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, this October,” she said.

“Receiving this award will help kickstart this project financially while also opening doors to new opportunities for future exhibitions and collaborations.”