2009 Cicely and Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award

• 12 March–30 August 2009

  The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
  

 

2009 Cicely and Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award

In March 2009, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will present the fifthCicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award.

The Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award is a generous legacy of the late Colin Rigg (1895–1982), a former Secretary of the NGV Felton Bequests' Committee. This ‘Award of Excellence’ focuses on contemporary design practice in the state of Victoria.

This award is arguably the most prestigious offered to a contemporary designer in Australia, with a prize of $30,000. In 2009 the exhibition will be dedicated to contemporary furniture design.

Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, NGV said: “This award brings together works by fourteen Victorian furniture designers and reflects the NGV’s continuing support for, and commitment to, contemporary design.”

“The Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award is regarded as one of the most prestigious design prizes in Australia and we remain indebted to Cicely and Colin Rigg and to the Rigg Bequest for the vision and foresight that continue to make this important event possible,” said Dr Vaughan.

The participating artists in 2009 are: Adam Cornish, Lambie Chan, Lucas Chirnside, Matthew Harding, Cathy Jankowsky, Joseph Keenan, Simone LeAmon, Jacqueline Ying Jun Lin, Chris Connell, Stuart McFarlane, Ross McLeod, Drew Martin & Dale Rock (Rock Martin), Oliver Field, and Helen Kontouris.

Matthew Martin, co-curator of the exhibition, said the entries in this year’s exhibition were of particularly high quality.

“The 2009 exhibition seeks to familiarise the public with the vitality of the contemporary Victorian furniture design scene. Every work in this exhibition has the potential to become a ‘design classic’ of the future,” said Mr. Martin.

Amy Barclay, co-curator of the exhibition said: “The designers participating in this year’s award are informed by a broad collection of social, environmental, material, and aesthetic concerns. Some entrants have explored environmental and sustainability issues through the use of recycled and natural materials.

“Other designers have produced seats with multiple configurations, reflecting an interest in the way furniture can shape people’s interactions with one another and the spaces they inhabit,” said Ms Barclay.

Each Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award exhibition is devoted to a particular design discipline. Previous recipients of the award are Neville Assad-Sadha (1994) for ceramics, Robert Baines (1997) for metalwork, Louise Weaver (2003) for textiles, Sally Marsland (2006) for jewellery.

The award recipient of the 2009 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award will be announced on 11 March.

The 2009 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award will be on display at the Myer Fashion & Textiles Galleries, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 12 March until 30 August 2009. Admission is free.

Principal Sponsor: Myer

The award and exhibition are supported by the Cicely & Colin Rigg Bequest, managed by ANZ Trustees.