The Percivals 2022

Cr Ann-Maree Greaney: The Percival Portrait Prize has been a welcome exhibition and competition here in Townsville since its inception in 2007, and this year is certainly no exception.

With more than 340 artworks entered into the competition for 2022, it's safe to say the level of talent here on display at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is nothing short of exceptional and that's the beauty of such a renowned competition like The Percivals.

With its grand portrait prize of $40,000, it commands entries of artists from all over the country and the world. Not only does it bring world-class artists and their work to the region, but that exposure has made the level of talent here in the region that much better.

Whether they be world-renowned or emerging artists, The Percivals has always provided a platform for our local artists here in North Queensland, and I'm extremely proud that this year, we have 76 submitted artworks coming from our city, with another 23 coming from the wider North Queensland area.

Jo Lankester: The Percivals Painting and Photographic Prizes were combined into one premier exhibition showcased across two floors of the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in 2020 by Creative Director, Jonathan McBurnie.

It continues to be displayed in this format as the premier portrait prize of Northern Australia. The 2022 exhibition comprises of 203 artworks by 167 local and national artists, celebrating the long-standing art form of portraiture.

Dr Carl Warner: One of the things I really like about photography is the idea that it can be a collaborative process between the sitter and the photographer and when we look at the image that I've chosen, Double Trouble by David Cossini, you can see that there's an engagement between the subjects and the photographer and when you look at this photograph, it speaks to more than just the kids who have been photographed.

These young teenagers, you can see that there's all teenagers, all teenage boys are nearly summarised in this image. It speaks to more than itself. You look around the image, and you keep seeing details in it. You can look through the back window of the car and see the people walking by. You can see the really bad food they are eating and just think to yourself this is a teenage land that I'm looking at.

Professor Elisabeth Findlay: It's a really tough process to select a winner and it takes a long time to find a work that really stands out, but this work by Michael Lindemann, I just kept coming back to and I found it quite compelling. It's called I... and for every phrase behind you add "I" and you get the thoughts through his head. That is a really brave and revealing thing to do to reveal your inner thoughts, so I was drawn to his honesty, and I was drawn to the sophistication of the work.

The reason why is that the portrait seems quite simple in many ways, but it's got a great deal of complexity. The portrait is a self-portrait of Michael, and it has text in the background, so he's straight away introducing some complexity between the image and the text. It goes to a lot of issues about identity, so you'll see in the portrait that Michael does depict his face, but he does that by covering up his face also with the paper bags.

Jo Lankester: I'd like to thank the selection panels, the judges, Professor Elizabeth Findlay and Dr Carl Warner, two Queensland-based art practitioners and educators apt in judging the 2022 Percival Prizes. My thanks are also extended to the Galleries staff who have worked incredibly hard to bring this exhibition to the public and we are celebrating with a street party and a live stream for the nation to participate in the celebrations.

Cr Ann-Maree Greaney: So, I implore our community here in Townsville to come down to the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery to see for themselves what the fuss is all about. I can promise you this: you won't be disappointed.