Announced this week, the scholarship will support Victorian College of the Arts graduate McMahon and South Australian School of Art graduate Power in pursuing a year of study at an overseas art institution of their choosing. Each will also receive a $50,000 allowance to support them in their studies and creation of work.
“The quality of applicants for the 2020 Samstag Scholarships was exceptionally high,” says University of South Australia Professor of Art and selection committee member Simon Biggs. “However, there were two that were especially strong. Kate Power impressed us with her clear commitment in continually developing a practice that critically challenges stereotypes.
Kate Power, When you open your mouth to speak (detail), 2018, timber, aluminium, vinyl, papier mache. 180 x 120 x 20cm (Photo: Courtesy of Christo)
“Marlee McMahon blew us away with the quality, originality and the maturity she displayed in her portfolio. We are really excited to see how their work develops as they immerse themselves in new cultures and in a stimulating learning environment.”
The scholarship will see Power and McMahon join the swelling ranks of Samstag Scholars alongside Elyas Alavi, Kristian Burford, Julie Gough, Nicholas Folland and Nike Savvas, who was also part of the 2020 selection committee. Past scholars Julian Day and Mikala Dwyer were recently announced as feature artists in the 2020 Adelaide Biennial earlier this month.
“I’ve never been more ecstatic than when I got the news that I’d received a Samstag Scholarship,” Power says of the news. “Immediately it has given me so much confidence in what I’m doing with my work.”
unisa.edu.au/samstag
Header image:
Marlee McMahon, Designer Sale (M-tooth), 2019, acrylic on canvas (Photo: Aaron Christopher Rees)
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