The largest scholarship given to student artists in NZ has been awarded to two postgraduates from the Elam School of Fine Arts, the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries (NICAI).

The largest scholarship given to student artists in NZ has been awarded to two postgraduates from the Elam School of Fine Arts, the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries (NICAI). Boris Dornbusch and Trenton Garratt will split the $10,000 Henrietta and Lola Anne Tunbridge Scholarship, which is given annually to an artist who excels in the exploration of contemporary themes in watercolour.

Lola Tunbridge, who died in 1999, was herself an avid watercolourist, and she wanted to support aspiring artists of this medium. For PGDip student Boris Dornbusch, the prize provides a welcome opportunity for him to return next year to Elam's Master of Fine Arts programme and to focus on his practice. He says his winning artwork, From the Beginnings, reflects the question of subjectivity - his primary field of research. The scholarship follows Boris' recent win at The Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Awards. Trenton Garratt, who is also completing a PGDip, says he is interested in forms that come from processes involving water; as a result, watercolour has become an important part of his visual research.

Head of Elam, Professor Derrick Cherrie, says 26 applications were received, all of which were highly impressive. He says the generosity of the scholarship helps ensure aspiring watercolourists feel their medium is valued. "Watercolours are strongly associated with 19th century artists such as Edouard Manet and Claude Monet, but the medium is both exciting and modern. The students honing their skills as watercolourists are engaged in some of the most vibrant work coming out of Elam today and we are grateful for the support of the Tunbridge scholarship to help ensure that vibrancy continues," says Professor Cherrie. 

Image: Trenton Garratt's winning watercolour.