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Media Release

Yang Sheng-An Memorial Art Prize

8 August 2006

The Yang Sheng-An Memorial Art prize and exhibition of entries is currently on show in the Long Gallery, Faculty of Creative Arts, building 25 at the University of Wollongong. This prize honours the memory of University of Wollongong Creative Arts Doctoral student, Yang Sheng-An, known to his Australian family and friends as Victor.

Victor was a talented young artist from Taiwan who had just begun his Doctoral degree with the Faculty of Creative Arts when he tragically drowned while surfing at East Corrimal beach in December 2002.

This memorial art scholarship was instigated in 2003 by the University of Wollongong Postgraduate Association (WUPA) and supported by the University's Office of Community and Partnerships. It was originally intended to be held for two years, but in August 2004 Victor's family traveled to the University again and generously donated $10,000, extending the award in Victor's memory.

During his 2004 visit Victor's father, Yang Chyi Lin, spoke of his family's cherished memories of a young man full of joy. Victor achieved more for painting in his 26 years than many people do in much longer lives, and he is remembered with affection by his colleagues and teachers at the University of Wollongong.

His topic of study at UOW was "The art of light and shadow in painting; a comparison between Chang Da Chian and Rembrandt." "Victor was particularly interested in aesthetics, which he felt should be an intrinsic part of 'creative levels of thinking and questioning'." says Professor Diana Wood Conroy, Acting Head, School of Art & Design, "He wished to focus on the essence of the difference between Chinese and western arts. He wrote 'I earnestly hope I can create something new from what I will learn at Wollongong, and better understand the profundity of art.' "

And the winner is...
The prize of $1,000 was awarded for a painting in oils, acrylics or watercolour that explores the theme of 'Spirit and Nature'. This is the first year that the art prize has been coordinated by the School of Art & Design and the judging took place on Tuesday 25 July by Professor Amanda Lawson, Acting Dean, Faculty of Creative Arts, UOW and John Monteleone, Deputy Director of the Wollongong City Art Gallery.

The 2006 winner is 3rd year Visual Arts student Kate McBride with her submission 'Broughton Cliffs', an eight panel watercolour painting which was selected from a field of 29 entries. The judges commented that Kate's entry is a "well executed piece, which works as individual panels or as a whole and projects an overall feeling of contemplation in nature".

With this award the cultural exchanges and warm connections between Wollongong and Taiwan continue in memory of Yang Sheng-An. The Faculty of Creative Arts extends it's appreciation to the Yang family and a hearty congratulations to Kate McBride.

Admission to the exhibition is free.