Winner of Contemporary Printmaking Prize: Stefan Tiburcio
Fen Ditton Gallery have announced the winner of their inaugural Contemporary Printmaking Prize, Stefan Tiburcio.
The work, titled Coronavirus: Stay at Home, Save Lives, Protect the NHS, is a light-hearted study of the mindset and routine (or lack of!) during the Covid-19 lockdowns, relatable to so many of us in this past year. The three-block woodcut sees the artist sprawled out on his bed, binge watching yet another tv series on his laptop, surrounded by the clutter of dirty plates and beer cans.
The winning original print: Stefan Tiburcio’s Coronavirus: Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives
The work was selected from over 550 entries to the new art prize by a panel of expert judges: Royal Academician, sculptor and draughtsman, Nigel Hall, printmaker and collage artist, Rebecca Jewell and Curator of Prints at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Elenor Ling.
The judges thought “it was a powerful and well-constructed image, skilfully executed with a clever reversal of colours to frame the composition. The artist has cut the lines of this essentially linear technique to give a real sense of liveliness and energy, which speaks to our restless physical and mental states due to staying inside during the Covid-19 lockdowns.”
What is particularly interesting about this work is that Stefan had never made a woodcut before the pandemic. In a recent interview with gallery manager, Hannah Munby, Stefan went on to say:
Masked up and socially distanced: From left, Rebecca Jewell, Stefan Tiburcio, Hannah Munby and Elenor Ling.
“I haven’t really had much experience in printmaking, but it was during the lockdown that I really tried something new and fell in love with it… I think it was that inexperience of not knowing what I was doing that allowed me to explore what printmaking is to me.”
“Most of my work before (the pandemic) was based on things that are quite active so during the lockdown, I wasn’t too sure what I could focus on – it’s busyness and motion that catches my eye. I wasn’t sure what to do so I ended up looking in the mirror, trying to re-observe myself and what I do as a routine.
I enjoyed finding a sense of humour in such a dark time. It’s easy to keep looking at the news and all you can see is the death counter and I could hear sirens in the window. But I didn’t want to have a negative mindset during the time, so finding simple things of me being a slob on the bed, with a few beer cans and my shoes on the floor, it just lightened the mood.”
Stefan’s award-winning artwork is exhibited at Fen Ditton Gallery, Cambridge, until Sunday 16th May as part of an exhibition of the 40 shortlisted works.
About the artist:
Fascinated by simplistic moments that occur throughout day-to-day activities and usually inspired by busy streets or the underground, Stefan Tiburcio was forced to look a little closer to home when the lockdown began. Through his work he began to re-observe the routine situations that we create for ourselves.
Tiburcio completed The Drawing Year at the Royal Drawing School in 2016-2017 and has a BA (First Class Hons) in Drawing at Falmouth University.
Tiburcio has been awarded the Hafod Residency, Jack Goldhill Award, Royal Drawing School (2017) and Dumfries House Residency.
About the Contemporary Printmaking Prize:
Open to all UK artists working in the field of print, this free-to-enter art prize is a self-funded project led by gallery manager, Hannah Munby, supported by gallery owner, Lotte Attwood and independent curator, Amanda Game.
Hannah comments: “I think printmaking is such a fascinating and skilful art form, now attracting new interest among contemporary artists and collectors. Particularly now after such a tough year for the industry, I feel it’s important to offer the chance for artists to present their work to new audiences.”
The prize attracted a diverse range of artists, from established career printmakers to those who have taken to printmaking during lockdown. From over 550 entries, a panel of specialist judges, artists Nigel Hall RA and Rebecca Jewell, and Curator of Prints at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Elenor Ling shortlisted 40 works that will be exhibited at the gallery from the 16th April – 16th May 2021.
What: Contemporary Printmaking Prize Exhibition
When: 16th April – 16th May 2021
Where: Fen Ditton Gallery, 23 High Street, Fen Ditton, Cambridge CB5 8ST
Opening times: Fridays by appointment, Saturdays and Sundays 10am – 6pm
View the exhibition online at fendittongallery.com/contemporary-printmaking-prize
For press enquiries, contact Hannah on info@fendittongallery.com