Bowness Prize announces People's Choice Award

Artist Renato Colangelo has won the Museum of Australian Photography's Bowness Prize People's Choice Award for his image Negative dark chamber (2023).

The image was made via camera obscura with 50 sheets of photographic paper, and "meticulously" hung in the darkness, producing paper negative images that capture the Marquis of Lorne hotel in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Colangelo wins $2,500 in cash and $2,500 worth of camera equipment thanks to sponsor Camera House. He described winning the prize as "humbling".

"It means so much to know that my work, "Negative dark chamber", has resonated with so many people. A heartfelt thank you to all that voted.

"Huge thanks to MAPh for their ongoing support of Australian photography and for helping to amplify the voices of photographers across the country. Your encouragement continues to inspire and drive the creative community forward."

In his artist's statement, Colangelo describes the camera obscura as something almost primal.

"An instant, subconscious almost primal relationship comes with standing inside a camera obscura, and the darkness and mood of ‘Negative dark chamber’ recreates the magic of this ephemeral experience," he says. 

Each of the 50 individual images measures 61.0 x 50.8 cm, to make an over 6 by 2.5 metre artwork.

The overall winner of the $10,000 Bowness prize this year was awarded to Robert Fielding, for his image Sacred earth/Manta Miil miilpa (2024).