December 07, 2021

Judges' Scorecard: Hubert Pareroultja

Peek behind the curtain of the Bluethumb Art Prize 2021 with this curation of judge (and 2020 art prize winner) Hubert Pareroultja's picks for the judges' scorecard. Discover below Hubert's top 5 picks from the prize, his comments, and the rest of the curation for his category picks.
Describing his top pick as "a strong painting of a strong man", Hubert's number one slot goes to Amos Hampton's portrait of the legendary David Gulpilil.
In the second slot comes a stunning Aboriginal piece in glowing hues of orange and red - Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Mina Mina Dreaming) - Ngalyipi by Pauline Napangardi Gallagher. "We all have a dreaming - this reminds me of country," explains Hubert in regards to what makes this piece such a stand out.
Wayne Smith's The Grinding Pace comes in third. An intricate abstract that has multiple layers, the imagines historical figures in the place they traditionally whittled and ground their weapons. The mysterious, ghostly figures form part of the landscape, emerging only when the viewer looks closer. The piece was chosen by Hubert for it's strong use of colour.
In fourth place is a landscape painting by Murray Charteris. The Consequence of Ignorance depicts an ancient, dying Baobab tree, which has just produced a seedling before it's own life ends. Murray Charteris uses the seedling to show the conseuqences of humanity on this fragile growth; "New growth giving hope to future life. In an instant of ignorance someone steps onto the new plant as if it didn't even exist, just because it happened to be in their way. Remaining life continue to suffer the consequences of our ignorance."
Hubert's final selection is Nadia Culph's celebration of Australian flora. A striking still life photograph of native Aussie flowers on a black background, the image pays homage to "all the nice flowers" in Hubert's eyes.

Curated by Hubert Pareroultja

About the Curator

Hubert Pareroultja

HUBERT PAREROULTJA is a senior Western Arrarnta-Luritja man who lives at Kulpitharra / Lundara outstation west of Hermannsburg (Ntaria). This is his homeland. Hubert has been painting watercolours since he was a young boy thus following in the footsteps of his father Reuben Pareroultja and Uncles Otto and Edwin Pareroultja. Reuben, Otto and Edwin were part of the original Hermannsburg School watercolour movement and were all acclaimed artists. When Hubert was a kid he watched the original Hermannsburg School watercolour artist Albert Namatjira and his father and uncles as they painted. Hubert paints many of the same locations that Namatjira and the Pareroultja brothers painted in particular Hermannsburg, Mt Sonder and James Range. Hubert lives and works in the Western MacDonnell Ranges to this day. His work is displayed in many important collections. In 2020 he was announced the winner of the prestigious Wynne Prize by the Art Gallery of NSW.
As the winner of the Bluethumb Art Prize 2020, Hubert was one of 4 esteemed judges for this year's Bluethumb Art Prize.

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