The BMW prize of $5,000 acknowledges an outstanding exhibition in CONTACT 2011. The jury, Sheyi Bankale, (Editor and Founder, Next Level Magazine, London, UK) and ?David Liss, (Artistic Director & Curator, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto) considered both Open and Featured exhibitions in CONTACT 2011 for this prize and based their decision on the caliber and concept of the work, the curatorial vision, and the overall impact of the exhibition. On Tuesday May 31 at the festival closing party Andrew Wright was presented with this inaugural award.

Wright’s innovative new body of work entitled CORONAE presented at Peak Gallery continues his investigation into photographic technologies by interrogating how they depict environments and the world around us. This series of large-scale works contributes to contemporary discourses on cameraless photography, challenging conventional understandings about materials, procedures, and functions.

“Andrew Wright very skillfully challenges the position and perspective of the viewer, who becomes the figure within the ground of his otherworldly images,” said David Liss. “Contemplative and darkly beautiful, Wright’s work is about light—the mechanics and the essence of photography—and can refer metaphorically to illumination, inspiration and the origin of the cosmos.”

Wright's use of photography is decidedly non-conventional as it eschews lyricism and traditional pictorial aims. His conceptual and lens-based practice also involves sculpture, film, installation, outdoor works and prints that probe phenomena, narrative, antique and contemporary technologies. He has exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally, with exhibitions at the University of California (Berkeley), Oakville Galleries, Photo Miami, Roam Contemporary (New York), ARCO '05 (Madrid), Presentation House, (Vancouver) and the Art Gallery of Calgary, to name a few. Andrew Wright is represented in Canada by Peak Gallery in Toronto and by Patrick Mikhail Gallery in Ottawa. He is an Assistant Professor of Visual Art at the University of Ottawa.

BMW has been a long time supporter of arts and culture around the world. “From the acclaimed BMW Art Car program, to the upcoming BMW Guggenheim Lab, we are proud to support photography here in Canada”, says Marc Belcourt, Brand Communications Manager for BMW Group Canada. “Through the BMW Exhibition Prize, we are able to recognize the most impactful exhibition within the CONTACT festival. We congratulate Mr. Wright on his work and commend him for his use of innovation and technology to push the boundaries of convention.”

Andrew Wright, Corona #5 (detail), 2011, Courtesy of Peak Gallery

For over 35 years BMW has been blurring the line between automobiles and art. And now with the BMW Art Car Print Contest you have an opportunity to bring a stunning example of this exploration home.

Recently, renowned American artist Jeff Koons became the 17th participant in the BMW Art Car initiative, and his creation is brilliant in every sense of the word. A celebration of speed, motion, and colour, his BMW M3 GT2 is impossible to ignore either on the track or, perhaps now, on the walls of your home. This limited edition print is shadow mounted in a 41" x 31" black laquered frame. Win 1 of 6. Visit BMW to get more information on the Jeff Koons project. 

BMW Art Car Print Contest→