Two pieces of ‘news’ that I’ve known about for a little while but had to stay ‘dumb’ about … Leanne and “Covid Vax & Ice Cream” has done it again … twice !
Firstly, my portrait of Leanne with her post Pfizer jab ice cream in Yarrabah (top below), has been selected as a Finalist in the prestigious planet wide ‘Kuala Lumpur International Portrait Prize’ (KLPA). The three selected as major prize winners of the award have now been announced, whilst all the thirty four Finalists will make up a KLPA exhibition at the GMBB gallery in Malaysia’s capital from the 16th September till the 2nd of October. It will be well worth a visit if you happen to be in KL … especially to see on the wall the beautiful winning entry by Australian Carole Mills Noronha entitled ‘Wonder’.
Very gratifying … and more so as KLPA has donated the proceeds from the award to be shared equally by Disaster Emergencies Committee and the United Nations Crisis Response to aid Ukrainian refugees.
It’s the third time I’ve been fortunate to be selected in the ‘Kuala Lumpur International Portrait Prize’. On the first occasion (pre covid in 2013) I travelled to Kuala Lumpur for the exhibition opening and presentation. My successful work that year was “Roustabout” … and it did look fabulous (and big) on the gallery wall (centre below).
Last year 2021 – despite being selected as a finalist for the second time with “Aurukun Generations” (also below) – a visit to KL was Covid problematic. The exhibition of portraits was delayed and delayed … until the works finally appeared on the exhibition gallery walls at the the GMBB creative community centre in Bukit Bintang, KL in January and February this year.
The works selected as this years Finalists may be found here … https://www.klphotoawards.com
Secondly … received the news that “Covid Vax & Ice Cream” also made the Shortlist selection (from a grand total of 4,482 works) in the annual National Portrait Gallery London ‘Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize’ … the second year in a row I’ve been shortlisted. Third time luckier ?
Earlier this year “Covid Vax & Ice Cream” was also selected in the World wide ‘Portrait of Humanity’ awards … and a Finalist in the ‘Percival Photographic Portrait Prize’ at the Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville.
… and … there’s yet another exciting announcement for “Covid Vax & Ice Cream” coming up soon 😉 ! Thanks Leanne … !
Images © Brian Cassey
