Stagecraft catalogue best in show

THE catalogue for the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s David Noonan: Stagecraft exhibition has won two Museums Australasia Multimedia and Publication Design Awards.

Designed by Ben Cox, the 20-page booklet, bound by hand, took out the small exhibition catalogue category and was Best in Show for Publications.

It includes reproductions of Noonan’s artwork, an original limited-edition print, and an essay from AGB curator Julie McLaren.

“The day the show was due to open, it was closed due to a COVID lockdown, so it’s been really nice at the end of all this to receive the award. David is excited about it as well,” Cox said.

“I feel really honoured to have won a prize at the Awards which are so prestigious across Australia and New Zealand. It was unexpected, and to win Best in Show was a nice surprise.”

Whenever the Gallery develops and publishes an exhibition catalogue, Cox works closely with the artist, or multiple creatives featured.

“David is based in the UK, so we started the conversation 12 months before we published the catalogue. It is a collaboration when you’re presenting an artist’s work, so I worked really closely with him to realise this.

“His works are large, textured and tactile, so that’s why the catalogue is in a big format and textured,” Cox said.

“A lot of thoughtfulness and consideration went into the design of the publication; the font, the paper, and how much space there is between the elements. The scale was really important.”

Art Gallery of Ballarat director Louise Tegart said her team is proud to be recognised for in-house design.

“David Noonan is one of Australia’s most significant artists, and the catalogue is a testament to the beauty of his work,” she said.

“The win continues the Gallery’s history of receiving MAPDA Awards over the last few years.”