While the National Portrait Gallery may have closed their doors for the foreseeable, the institution continues to make headlines. Their decision to maintain a relationship with the oil and gas conglomerate BP has met with criticism across the art world.
In an attempt to break from the oil company, the gallery issued the BP Portrait Award without a member of the company on the judging panel for the first time in its history. The competition had 1,981 entrants this year, from 69 different countries.
Self-taught Jiab Prachakul was announced as this year’s winner of the award for her piece entitled Night Talk, which the panel said was “an evocative portrait of a fleeting moment in time” presenting a snapshot of a life that is “beautiful, mysterious and alive”. Prachakul was also congratulated on her use of contrasting shapes and bold composition.
Cultural bodies have come under fire in recent years for their partnerships with BP. Institutions such as the Royal Shakespeare Society and National Galleries Scotland have made the decision to terminate their relationship with the oil company.
Artist Gary Hume authored a letter last year asking the NPG to drop BP as a sponsor. He has called the removal of a member of BP from the governing board a “minor victory”.
In a public statement, the NPG said that: “The judging panel is refreshed each year to ensure new perspectives are brought to judge the entries. The gallery and BP jointly agreed not to have a sponsor representative on the judging panel this year.”
Prachakul was inspired to take up painting after seeing a David Hockney exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in 2006 and is a first-time nominee. She takes home the £35,000 award.
While countrywide lockdown continues, the BP Portrait Award 2020 can be seen online.
