2021 Henry Jones Art Prize

I am honoured to have been named one of 57 finalists in the 2021 Henry Jones Art Prize.

The $20,000 Henry Jones Art Prize aims to showcase exciting new work from Tasmania’s finest rising contemporary artists, something that The Henry Jones Art Hotel has long been passionate about.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to purchase artworks and vote for their favourite, with the artist of the most popular work receiving a $1,000 voucher thanks to Artery. There will also be a Packing Room Prize, chosen by the hanging team, providing one lucky artist with a $750 framing voucher thanks to Just Frames.

kanalaritja, 2021

Fine Art Print, Inkjet on 350gsm William Turner Hahnemuhle Paper, Tasmanian Blackwood behind UltraVue Glass.
42cm x 102cm

Caleb Nichols-Mansell is self-taught, early career mixed media artist and the Founder of Blackspace Creative Arts and Cultural Hub. He is a proud Tasmanian Aboriginal man with deep connections to country, community, culture, and spirit which inform his practice and process as an artist and storyteller.

Delving into and shining light on the politics of identity, land, and cultural heritage his artwork aims to generate conversation and evoke deep thinking whilst providing viewers with an intimate look at what it means to be Tasmanian Aboriginal man in modern day Tasmania.

kanalaritja is Inspired by an image I recently seen of one of our shell necklaces in a private collection in Melbourne. This necklace has 565 shells and is described as having a “well-made, thin twine”. It is also said to be the necklace mentioned in Ling Roth (1890). 

Over 24,000 individual strokes and a total of 11 hours were spent creating this piece whilst reflecting on the strength, dedication, and commitment of our women to the continuation of our culture, customs, and traditions.

kanalaritja is symbolic of this, and that string remains unbroken because of them.