Dan Arps wins 2010 Walters Prize

Dan Arps, 'Explaining things', installation view

Last night Auckland artist Dan Arps was awarded the 2010 Walters Prize, New Zealand’s most lucrative art prize.  Beating out fellow finalists Alex Monteith, Fiona Connor and Leg of Lamb favourite Saskia Leek, Arps was selected by international judge and former Tate Modern Director Vicente Todoli for his installation Explaining Things, first shown at Gambia Castle in Auckland in 2008.   Arp’s seemingly casual installation of domestic objects was described by Todoli as “…a revelatory multi-layered experience”.

The work of all 4 finalists is on display at Auckland Art Gallery until the end of the month.

Walters Prize finalists announced

Saskia Leek, 'Untitled 1', 2009 from Yellow is the Putty of the World

Auckland Art Gallery has announced the finalists for this year’s Walters Prize.  The artists in the running for the $50,000 award are Dan Arps (for Explaining Things shown at Gambia Castle, Auckland), Fiona Connor (for Something Transparent (please go round the back) shown at Michael Lett, Auckland), Saskia Leek (for Yellow is the Putty of the World shown at Ivan Anthony, Auckland) and Alex Monteith (for Passing Manoeuvre with two motorcycles and 584 vehicles for two-channel video shown at ST PAUL St, AUT University, Auckland).   The judge will be announced later this year.

The Walters Prize, Auckland Art Gallery, Corner Wellesley & Kitchener Streets, 24 July – 31 October 2010