Rosemary Hamilton | Irish Examiner, 1996

ARTIST Tom Climent is the winner of the Victor Treacy Award for 1996.

The Best Emerging Artist was chosen by Brian Fallon and announced at the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny.

Climent was one of six young artists invited to exhibit at the annual award show which is a showcase for young emerging artists, sponsored by Carlow business man Victory Treacy, of Victor Treacy International.

Tom Climent grew up in Douglas, Cork. He studied at the Crawford College and has exhibited two solo shows in his home county, and has also participated in a number of group shows.

He said that his immediate plans are to “get back to work”, and that he hopes to have a show in Dublin next year.

While opening the Award Show and announcing his independent decision, Brian Falon had a word of praise for each of the exhibitors. It has been a very difficult decision. It is a most even show. But I must put my neck on the line”. Before announcing the winner, he added: “I don’t mean to devalue the other artists”.

Also exhibiting at the award show in the Butler until December 8, are Sarah Walker, Oliver Comerford, Suzanne Chan, David Quinn, Fiona Joyce and Michael Canning.

The Victor Treacy Award Show has been an annual event since 1991 and the winner receives the handy sum of £1,500. After this year’s award ceremony Victory Treacy said: “Being a businessman, I know how hard it is for any young people to get going. I wanted to provide young artists with a kick start.”

As to the quality of the country’s emerging artists, Brian Fallon asserted: “There is an enormous amount of promising young talent in the country today. We are becoming more visually aware as a nation”. When asked what the future would hold for the show’s exhibitors, Fallon replied: “As to how far they go after this, well it’s the Devil’s Glen... But in terms of the quality of emerging talent in the country, it’s never been better”.

George Vaughan, a director of the Grennan Mill Craft school claimed that this was the best award show ever, it was a “joy to behold”.