Bluethumb Winnner 2022
Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 Overall Winner: Midas’ Daughter II – Golden Still Life by Lauren Starr
Following in the footsteps of Loribelle Spirovski, Lauren Starr has taken out the $150,000 Bluethumb Art Prize 2022, scoring her second win in a Bluethumb Art Prize after taking home the Photography Category Award in 2021 for her piece Memento Mori – Colour Flower Feast. A huge congratulations to Lauren!
For the second year in a row, Lauren Starr has taken out the Photography Category Award in the Bluethumb Art Prize for her intricate and meaningful photographs. In judging tonight’s winning artwork, Loribelle Spirovski states, “…this is simply breathtaking in its subject and execution. A golden Ophelia. Starr’s visual storytelling is deeply evocative”.
Renowned photographer and 2022 Bluethumb Art Prize judge Tamara Dean explains, “the fairytale reference in this image is potent, reminding the viewer of the true sense of what can be lost in the pursuit of possessions. An age old story, still as relevant today as ever. It takes us into a different world, a world steeped in symbolism. The work is beautifully staged and executed down to the finest details.”
Inspired by the story of king Midas, who loved gold so much he made a wish that everything he touch turn to gold. At first the gift seemed to fulfil his every dream and satiate every craving. Until he couldn’t enjoy simple pleasures such as smelling a rose or enjoying a meal. And then his little daughter hugged him and also turned into gold. Tragically he realised too late that his greatest joy had been in front of him all along.
A reminder to cherish those you love and that the simple pleasures are actually the greatest treasures.
This image was a challenge the artist set herself: "Rather than layer photographs together as I often do, I wanted this to be a single image. Every piece of the background (flowers, leaves, fruit) I’ve spray painted gold, and our lovely Midas’ daughter has been covered in body paint. I stood on a ladder to photograph her lying on the golden foliage.
When I look at the image, I'm always drawn to how peaceful she looks, as though she has just fallen asleep, the apple lying loosely in her hands. When you look closely, her body is actually covered in goosebumps and I love the juxtaposition or her serenity against the raised flesh. Did she know the second before she was turned into gold that something was about to happen? I'm urged to compare her utter trust with the love that Midas' daughter had for her father. How completely trusting and dependent all of our children are on us and what it is we do with that power and responsibility."
Available through Bluethumb Art Gallery: https://bluethumb.com.au/lauren-starr