Art Zone Painting Winner:

Kowhai/Yellow by Tom Normeier    

This particular painting has thoughtful use of colour and extreme detail, from the soft focus in the background to the pollen on the bird’s beak. The eye of the bird draws the viewer in and through the painting. We loved that the name was Kowhai, for the native tree the tui sits in, not the bird itself, moving the attention from the bird to its surroundings.

Photography Winner:

The Rohingyans by Aiman Amerul Munur

A powerful framing of anguish. The image comes directly from the photographer’s eye, a hard technique to master effectively. The image has a thoughtful use of black and white, which amplifies the torment seen in the subject.

Dog With Two Tails Illustration/Drawing Winner:

Incel by Asia King

Gruesome yet humorous. The image presents the deliberate use 2D and 3D techniques, which amplify the uniqueness of the image. An inherent sense of story left untold is drawn from the piece, which keeps the spectator involved.

Sculpture Winner:

Dissected by Natasha Manuson

This sculpture presented thoughtful glazing that aided in the revealing of skin to flesh and bone, as well as revealing the clay itself as a vital element in the exposure of the subject.

Dunedin Public Art Gallery Other Medium Winner:

Uninhibited by Emma Gamson

This piece is innovative in its use of varnish to bring colour into the leaves of a design that quite literally jumps out of the frame. There has been careful consideration put into the soothing twists and turns, which form the body of the tree, as well as the use of individual wires to create the roots that attach the piece to the frame.

Cultural Award:

Copper Eyes of Hanuman by Natasha Manuson  

The technique and patience put into the creation of this piece is amazing. The artist has created depth with each cut of paper, and by placing the copper card on black background has drawn the story that inspired the piece directly into the artwork itself.