Laurel’s art wins maritime prize
The 2019 bushfires have inspired an award-winning painting from Longwarry artist Laurel Foenander during lockdown.
The oil on linen painting titled “Lest We Forget” features a boat filled with climate refugees and animals fleeing a bushfire via the sea as the sky fills with plumes of smoke.
It won the MSC Maritime Art Award last week, the major prize of the annual Mission to Seafarers’ Maritime Art Prize and Exhibition. Of the entries received from across Australia, 80 were shortlisted before Laurel was announced the winner of the $10,000 acquisition prize.
Having been a finalist three times, Lauren said it was a great honour to win and for her painting to now be part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) collection.
“I painted it in lockdown after the fires. Obviously, we were all deeply affected by the fires. But I felt like we were all so mindful and then we were really quickly into lockdown.”
Whilst COVID has dominated community thoughts, Laurel wants Australians to keep sight of climate change issues.
“I just felt like the situation is so great, what is happening with our climate is too much to ignore. We need to act now for our kids and grandkids.”
In entering the maritime-themed awards, Laurel focused on the humanitarian relationship with the sea and how it became a sanctuary for so many during the 2019 bushfires.
“They took to the water in boats, the sea being a sanctuary and escape and also just a way for people to band and be together, looking after each other.”
The painting also reflects Laurel’s isolation and bewilderment in lockdown, with people on the boat representing her family, friends and community.
Her late father Pieter Vroegop stands at the front of the boat alongside her mum Lorraine. Her husband Wayne is in the centre surrounded by family members. The family next door posed over the fence to feature and even wellknown local artists Gary Miles and Kerrie Warren are on the boat.
Laurel said many of these people have their own personal connections with the sea. Some worked on the sea, others immigrated to Australia via the sea and one was even born whilst on a lifeboat at sea.
Her passion for animals, wildlife and conservation also comes to the fore, with various family pets, her signature black cockatoos and even a naughty possum who came down her chimney all featured.
As artists look to bounce back after a difficult COVID lockdown, Laurel noted fantastic appreciation for original art and particularly pieces relating to nature. She also noted the support of local galleries such as Town and Country Gallery in Yarragon.