September 23, 2022
A young South Burnett artist whose works have been seen in Murgon and Wondai is a finalist in this year’s prestigious Brisbane Portrait Prize.
The finalists were announced last Saturday (September 17) and their works will be exhibited at Brisbane’s Powerhouse in New Farm from next Thursday (September 29).
The winners of this year’s competition – which carries a total $87,000 in prize money – will be announced on October 5, with the exhibition remaining on public display until October 30.
Kane’s work, “With My Old People”, is his reflection on the importance of country and respect for ancestors.
“This work is a viewing into how I see and walk in my existence,” Kane said.
“I am surrounded by my ancestors, something I remind myself of regularly, (and the) faces and figures seen throughout the piece are my old people and a reflection of who I am.”
Kane attended Murgon State High School before earning a Yalari scholarship, which allowed him to complete his secondary education at Toowoomba Grammar School.
After graduating in 2016, he returned to the South Burnett and became involved in several arts-related projects.
These included designing the Indigenous rugby league jersey for the Mustangs; partnering with Toowoomba artist Bronte Naylor and local children to create and paint a large mural in Murgon PCYC’s main auditorium; and then partnering with artist Olivia Everitt to repaint and revitalise the Kingaroy Skate Park.
In 2018, Kane was involved in painting a large mural on the Telstra substation near Murgon’s skate park, and the following year he and Olivia organised workshops for local youths that repainted the amenities block in QEII Park (now painted over).
Kane also exhibited works at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery during this period, earning several Highly Commended awards in the Gallery’s art competitions, along with a People’s Choice award in the 2019 Mayor’s Acquisitive Art Competition.
He is also an inaugural participant in the Birrunga Gallery’s three-year Cultural Creative Residential program in Brisbane.
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