By Andy Young
Glenfiddich has announced the winner of its inaugural Australian Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Competition.
Joan Ross, a dual Blackheath and Bondi resident, took out the competition, winning a three-month residence at the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown working alongside artists from Scotland, India, China Taiwan, Canada and Korea.
The Artists in Residence contest has been running at the distillery since 2002 under the watchful eye of curator Andy Fairgrieve, who has mentored over 100 artists in that time.
Fairgrieve said: “Given the incredible standard and quality of the seven finalists, it was never going to be an easy task to choose just one to join our residency program next summer at distillery, however I feel we have an outstanding artist and personality with Joan.
“Her carefully composed works in both print and video are not only visually stunning but deeply thought provoking. Given her artistic concerns surrounding appropriation of land through colonialism and the environmental issues she subtly addresses, I know she will find a rich vein of source material to inform new works once she sets foot on Scottish soil next summer. I look forward to welcoming her to the Glenfiddich Distillery next year.”
Glasgow-born Ross added: “I am very excited; the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence program is such a great opportunity. I’m really looking forward to getting back to and reconnecting with my roots and discovering more about my heritage along with the chance to explore the Highlands. I have only been back once and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape.
“Being in a completely different environment and living and working in the distillery space will enable me to not only get stuck into my work but also provide me with a totally different source of inspiration.”
Ross will head to Dufftown in 2016 to take part in her residency.