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Bunbury Exhibition showcases best of region’s art

Headshot of Nicolette Barbas
Nicolette BarbasSouth Western Times
SWT Art 2020 winner Rizzy with judge Ted Snell.
Camera IconSWT Art 2020 winner Rizzy with judge Ted Snell. Credit: Nicolette Barbas

Bunbury’s iconic pink building came to life on Friday as artists, guests and dignitaries came together to officially open the South Western Times Art 2020 exhibition.

Filling two of Bunbury Regional Art Gallery’s biggest spaces, the exhibition allows emerging and established artists from around the region to showcase a diverse range of works.

University of WA chief cultural officer Professor Ted Snell was the head judge of this year’s exhibition and awarded the City of Bunbury Prize to local artist Rizzy.

“Rizzy’s work was perfectly pitched, conceptually strong, exquisitely made and beautifully installed,” Mr Snell said.

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“It is an ephemeral work that is very vulnerable and it’s not going to last for a long time, so the SWT Art 2020 is a great place to showcase it.”

Working primarily with sugar and icing through her practice, Rizzy said her winning piece, Trail, was a reference to femininity.

“Through my work I explore the essence of femininity — sugar, spice and everything nice,” she said.

“I use my body a lot and do a lot of sugar casting of myself.

“Notions of purity, softness and society’s expectations of women are examined using materials that reference the female experience.”

Bunbury Regional Art Gallery director Joanne Baitz commended Rizzy’s level of skill.

“To produce something so intensely beautiful that celebrated everything feminine, I could not be more thrilled for Rizzy,” she said.

The exhibition has work from 68 artists and runs until April 27.

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