20 Jul Sophia Hewson announced Finalist in 2017 Archibald Prize

Sophia Hewson
Untitled (Richard Bell)
oil on board

[MARS] would like to announce Sophia Hewson has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Archibald prize. Hewson’s work this year once again is set to intrigue and challenge both art world and the general public.

‘What does white guilt look like? Is there a “hierarchy of oppressions”? Do we live in a nation of roughly equal opportunity? Or do we live in a fantasy land, a cracked cartoon landscape brimming with fairytale myths of freedom and democracy?’ asks Hewson.

‘The Archibald Prize was named after the founding editor of a magazine [The Bulletin] known for its racist editorial declarations; from 1999 until 2005 the prize was sponsored by the Colonial Foundation Trust; and in 96 years ‘we’ have never awarded the prize to a person of colour. It’s a situation for which this work is no remedy,’ says Hewson

‘What does it mean for us to be participating in a prize that’s never been awarded to a person of colour?  For decades, artist and activist Richard Bell has worked to raise these difficult questions and to provocatively, intelligently and playfully challenge our conceptions.’

Born in the UK in 1984, Hewson has exhibited extensively locally and internationally. Last year she released a controversial video work, Untitled (are you ok bob?). This is her third time in the Archibald.
Sophia Hewson’s CV is attached along with a low res image and a detailed image of the work.

For further information contact Andy Dinan, Director, MARS Gallery
andy@marsgallery.com.au
0412 999 652