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Painting of the artist's son wins BP portrait award for Susanne du Toit Painting of the artist's son wins BP portrait award for Susanne du Toit
(4 months later)
It is all about the hands, said artist Susanne du Toit about her striking and powerful portrait of her 35-year-old son Pieter, which last night won her one of the UK's most prestigious visual arts prizes.It is all about the hands, said artist Susanne du Toit about her striking and powerful portrait of her 35-year-old son Pieter, which last night won her one of the UK's most prestigious visual arts prizes.
Du Toit was named winner of the 2013 BP Portrait Award at a ceremony at the National Portrait Gallery, receiving £30,000 and a £5,000 commission yet to be decided.Du Toit was named winner of the 2013 BP Portrait Award at a ceremony at the National Portrait Gallery, receiving £30,000 and a £5,000 commission yet to be decided.
Sandy Nairne, director of the NPG and chairman of the judging panel, said the standard was as high as ever and praised Du Toit for "her simple but outstanding portrait of her son".Sandy Nairne, director of the NPG and chairman of the judging panel, said the standard was as high as ever and praised Du Toit for "her simple but outstanding portrait of her son".
Du Toit was born in Pretoria and studied there and at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston before moving to the UK in 1994.Du Toit was born in Pretoria and studied there and at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston before moving to the UK in 1994.
She is now based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, and painted her son as part of a series of portraits of her family, which also includes her daughter, the former Hollyoaks actor Elize du Toit, who is in turn married to the actor Rafe Spall.She is now based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, and painted her son as part of a series of portraits of her family, which also includes her daughter, the former Hollyoaks actor Elize du Toit, who is in turn married to the actor Rafe Spall.
Before hearing of her win, du Toit said she allowed her son to find his own pose with one condition: she had to see his hands, as she finds them essential in communicating personality. "I look to the body to provide as much expression as the face," she said. "Having said that, the averted gaze of this portrait, which was his choice, struck me as characteristic of his reflective character, and became intensely engaging."Before hearing of her win, du Toit said she allowed her son to find his own pose with one condition: she had to see his hands, as she finds them essential in communicating personality. "I look to the body to provide as much expression as the face," she said. "Having said that, the averted gaze of this portrait, which was his choice, struck me as characteristic of his reflective character, and became intensely engaging."
Du Toit's winning portrait is one of 55 chosen for this year's BP Portrait Award exhibition, which opens to the public on Thursday and is always one of the UK's most popular shows. Last year it had 255,982 visitors.Du Toit's winning portrait is one of 55 chosen for this year's BP Portrait Award exhibition, which opens to the public on Thursday and is always one of the UK's most popular shows. Last year it had 255,982 visitors.
The competition is in its 34th year and there was clearly something about family this year with the £10,000 runner-up named as John Devane – whose day job is head of design and visual arts at Coventry University – for a large group portrait of his three children: Lucy, 25, Laura, 20, and Louis, 15.The competition is in its 34th year and there was clearly something about family this year with the £10,000 runner-up named as John Devane – whose day job is head of design and visual arts at Coventry University – for a large group portrait of his three children: Lucy, 25, Laura, 20, and Louis, 15.
This year's young artist prize was awarded to Owen Normand, a 28-year-old Berlin-based Scottish painter, for a portrait of his girfriend, Hannah, called The Berlin Room.This year's young artist prize was awarded to Owen Normand, a 28-year-old Berlin-based Scottish painter, for a portrait of his girfriend, Hannah, called The Berlin Room.
Also announced was the winner of the BP Travel Award, given to Sophie Ploeg, a Dutch artist based in Bristol. She won for a proposal to explore how fashion and lace was represented in 17th-century art and will get a chance to visit lace-making centres such as Bruges and Honiton in Devon.Also announced was the winner of the BP Travel Award, given to Sophie Ploeg, a Dutch artist based in Bristol. She won for a proposal to explore how fashion and lace was represented in 17th-century art and will get a chance to visit lace-making centres such as Bruges and Honiton in Devon.
This year's judges were the painter and assistant to the late Lucian Freud, David Dawson; Sarah Howgate, an NPG curator; Victoria Pomery, director of Turner Contemporary in Margate; the writer Ali Smith; and Des Violaris, BP's director of UK arts and culture.This year's judges were the painter and assistant to the late Lucian Freud, David Dawson; Sarah Howgate, an NPG curator; Victoria Pomery, director of Turner Contemporary in Margate; the writer Ali Smith; and Des Violaris, BP's director of UK arts and culture.
• The free BP Portrait Award show is at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 June-15 September.• The free BP Portrait Award show is at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 June-15 September.
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