Arresting images win photography award

Arresting images win photography award

A diptych of ‘arresting’ images, taken in Austria by an architecture student from the University of Auckland has won the 2017 Simon Devitt Award for Photography.

The work by 22-year-old LiWen Choy entitled Dissonance, was announced on Tuesday night as the winner by judge Simon Devitt, to a capacity crowd at the George Fraser Gallery in Central Auckland.

The award and exhibition founded by photographer Simon Devitt is part of the Festival of Photography. This year’s theme was How Are You?

Choy, who is in his final year of a Masters of Architecture degree, captured the winning images while on a recent architectural study tour of Europe, using traditional 35-millimetre film.

The Malaysian-born, Hamilton raised, and now Auckland-based student says he selected film as his medium as he wanted the restriction of having only 36 shots. He says this method forced him to be more thoughtful and focused with his camera.

When announcing the winner, Simon Devitt said: “We all observe fleeting moments and chance encounters in our daily lives. Moment by moment most of these dissolve into the ether. Sometimes one or two will stay with us. Very rarely are these moments, the special ones, captured. But LiWen Choy’s winning work features two arresting images that stopped me in my tracks.”

This year there were over 50 entries in a large variety of styles. The exhibition features work from the 16 finalists.

This is not the first time Choy has entered the competition, having previously made it through to the finals.

The award, now in its ninth year, is open to all students from the Faculty of Creative Arts & Industries at the University of Auckland.

Associate Professor Peter Shand, Head of Elam School of Fine Arts, opened the exhibition of finalists’ work, saying “it was an honour to pay tribute to Simon’s enduring vision and support”.

The 2017 Simon Devitt Prize for Photography exhibition
Theme: How are you?
Wednesday 24 May - Saturday 3 June, 11am-4pm
George Fraser Gallery
25a Princes Street
Gallery open Wednesdays to Saturdays.
Free.

The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the Elam School of Fine Arts, the School of Architecture and Planning, the Centre for Art Studies, the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.

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