Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, August 8, 2024
Lower Hutt artist Ella Jones has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Parkin Drawing Prize and a $25,000 reward, sponsored by arts patron and philanthropist Chris Parkin. Her mesmerising work, “The Visual World is Inexhaustible,” captivated the judges and audience alike at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts Academy Galleries.
A Captivating Visual Narrative
Ms Jones’ winning piece is an intricate graphite drawing consisting of 120 individual paper drawings, intricately woven with steel wire to create a cascading visual narrative. Chosen from a formidable pool of 463 entries and 77 finalists, her artwork stood out for its originality and depth.
The competition’s judge, Justin Paton, Head Curator of International Art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, praised the artwork for its compelling presence. “Ella Jones’s work kept me looking. It is a cascading diary of 120 moments pulled from the flow of everyday life. It is a work that seems curious about the world, and it makes us curious in turn. A kitchen sink, a black cat slinking by, a lumpy tumble of river stones, a dog looking dopily from a car window, a slice of landscape hanging in a rear-view mirror. She records all this and more using a constantly changing alphabet of graphite marks, lines, dashes, twists, gaps, knots, darks, and densities. This live drawing language acknowledges that no one description can hold the world’s complexity.”
Artistic Inspiration
Overwhelmed by her win, Ms Jones expressed her astonishment and gratitude. “It was an immense joy just to be selected as a finalist, so winning is beyond my wildest expectations. I am truly honoured. This is something extraordinary.”
She describes her work as a tapestry made from 120 individual graphite drawings. “This body of work addresses the fear of habitualisation—the conscious acceptance of daily life. It focuses on the ephemeral sensations and fleeting moments of our surroundings. My piece draws from the work of the renowned NZ artist Joanna Margaret Paul, whose approach of being attuned to the world rather than just existing in it resonates deeply with me.”
Inspired by Joanna Margaret Paul’s intimate and reflective approach to drawing, Ms Jones sees her work as a form of active meditation. “Each drawing represents a window into my personal life, capturing profoundly intimate and seemingly mundane moments. For instance, a drawing of a cat that used to visit my old flat holds memories and stories that highlight the habit of daily life. It is a reminder to slow down and be present in these small yet significant moments.”
Future endeavours
At just 24 years old, she already has a rich background in the arts, having developed her passion for drawing at St. Oran’s College. She recently completed a Master’s in Architecture at Victoria University’s School of Architecture and was a finalist in the NZ Institute of Architecture Student Design Awards in 2022 for her project Drawing Ground. She has also exhibited her work at the artist collective she co-founded, Community of Practice, which encourages creative exploration beyond the conventional 9-to-5.
Currently working with the Wellington-based architecture firm Jasmax, Ms Jones is preparing for a new journey to the Netherlands to further her passion for art and architecture. “As I am half Dutch, I am excited to connect with my Dutch whanau and explore my artistic and architectural pursuits,” she says.
The 2024 Parkin Drawing Prize exhibition, featuring all the finalists’ artworks, will run from Tuesday, August 6th until Sunday, September 8th at the NZ Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington. All pieces will be available for purchase, providing an excellent opportunity for art admirers and collectors to acquire remarkable works and for gallerists to discover new talent.
The competition, in association with the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, aims to promote excellence and innovation in drawing, fostering the growth of New Zealand’s drawing practice. Past winners include notable artists such as Monique Jansen, Douglas Stichbury, Gabrielle Amodeo, Hannah Beehre, Kirsty Lillico, Jacqui Colley, Michael Dell, Poppy Lekner, Mark Braunias, Siân Stephens, and Connoh Podmore.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
