Innovative approach

The partnership behind one of Western Australia’s newest art exhibitions has been recognised for its innovation. 

An initiative of ARTRAGE and AdultShop.com, the ‘AdultShop.com Erotic Art Prize’ was launched in 2005 and attracted more than 300 entries from every state in Australia, including 18 artists from WA.

ARTRAGE director and CEO Marcus Canning said the partnership was a good fit in terms of attitude.

“It’s actually the first time in WA that a national art prize has been created that didn’t just replicate a model from somewhere else,” he said.

The inaugural exhibition featured a final short-list of 50 pieces encompassing photography, painting, textiles, jewellery, sculpture, installation, web-based media, performance, sound and moving images.

“It was a really fascinating exhibition for its diversity as much as anything else, with some really high-profile national artists attached to it, as well as emerging artists and unknowns,” Mr Canning said.

The partnership began when Mr Canning heard via the grapevine that Malcolm Day, managing director of AdultShop.com, was interested in establishing an erotic art prize.

The exhibition was staged at ARTRAGE’s complex, The Bakery, with the March 2007 exhibition to be staged elsewhere. 

Mr Canning said the partnership was also considering some longer-term targets, including the concept of a ‘best of’ exhibition, featuring a selection of works from three of the exhibitions, with the intent to create a publication and tour nationally.