Annie MacDonell Untitled from the Picture Collection series 2012
The fifth annual Grange Prize, a partnership between Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario and Aeroplan, has announced its four finalists for 2012: UK artists Jason Evans and Jo Longhurst and Canadian artists Emmanuelle Léonard and Annie MacDonell.
The prize, one of Canada’s largest cash-value awards—$65,000 in total with $50,000 going to the winner, $5,000 to the other finalists—celebrates outstanding achievement in contemporary photography both nationally and abroad.
Since its inception in 2008, the Grange Prize has become known for its international partnerships, this year focusing on the UK. Both finalists from that country approach their craft traditionally and innovatively. Jason Evans’ highly stylized work dovetails with online culture, with his popular photoblog The Daily Nice offering one image per day. Jo Longhurst’s practice is rigorous—she is best known for her beautiful portrait series on the physical perfection of greyhounds and gymnasts—but her work also often takes the form of sculptural wall installations.
As for the Canadians, Torontonian Annie MacDonell pushes further into installation, using the juxtaposition of various media to meditate on acts of looking. Montrealer Emmanuelle Léonard takes a sociological and indexical approach to capturing civic edifices and systems.
All four finalists also receive an international residency. Past winners have included Gauri Gill (2011), Kristan Horton (2010), Marco Antonio Cruz (2009) and Sarah Anne Johnson (2008).
Notably, the Grange Prize is one of the only major Canadian art prizes for which the public decides the winner. Have your say, until October 30, at thegrangeprize.com or at related exhibitions at the AGO and at London, UK’s, Canada House. The winner of the prize will be announced November 1.
