West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Wednesday 4 August 1954, page 11


KNIGHT MAKES CALL FOR NEW ART ERA The Perth Art Gallery was crowded yesterday afternoon for the opening of on exhibition of entries for the Perth prize for Contemporary Art by the Lieut.-Governor (Sir John Dwyer). '

Sir John said that he hoped it was the beginning of a new era of art appreciation. "If we stopped in the groove of tradition we would never advance," he said. "Now we are breaking away from that tradition." He said that there was a possibility of -an annual exhibition of this kind. The pictures exhibited represented abstract forms rather than something "concrete," Sir John said. N.S.W. Men Win Michael Kmit won the oil section and Frank Hinder the watercolour section, both competitors came from N.S.W. The wining West Australian artists were Robert Juniper, oil, and John Wilson, watercolour. There were 254 entries in the competition and 69 came from the Eastern States. The judges were the Director of the Perth Art Gallery (Mr. L. Thomas), a representative of the Art Gallery Society (Dr. R. K. Constable) and a representative of the West Australian Newspapers Ltd. (Professor A. Edwards). Critic Praises Exhibition (By C.G.) A very large attendance testified to the public interest in the opening of this show. Seldom has the gallery hung a stronger collection. The hanging brings out the colour, strength and variety of the exhibits very well. Local work, strong in quantity and quality, is better than it has ever been. Much of it compares favourably with the pictures from other States and show the good effect of recent exhibitions. Several of our painters have made great advances of late. Greater insight The strongly individual attitude displayed in the paintings is - a good feature; although there is much derivative work shown, the artists generally show a more confident approach and greater insight. The verdict of the judges will be generally endorsed; the prize-winners _ by no means stand out from others in the top flight, and selection was difficult. The success of our younger painters in John Wilson and Robert Juniper gives promise of future developments among our juniors.