Artists across Tasmania are being encouraged to pick up their brushes – and a sturdy pair of gloves – for what might just be the world’s most unusual art competition.
The Pooseum in Richmond is now accepting entries for its second annual “Poo-tastic Tasmanian Paint Off”, where artistic expression meets the call of nature in ways most galleries wouldn’t dare imagine.
This year’s theme of “Expressive Portraits: Faces with Faeces” challenges both professional and amateur artists to capture personality and emotion using animal dung as their primary medium.
The competition, open to Tasmanian artists aged 16 and over, offers prizes with $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second and $500 for third.
Winning entries will earn a permanent spot in the country’s only science museum dedicated entirely to animal faeces.
Last year’s inaugural event saw more than 60 entries, with artist Karen Lyttle taking out top honours for her work “Crap Wallpaper”, a patterned piece crafted with pademelon poo.
Her creation was praised for symbolising “the endless cycle of feeding, digestion, defecation, nutrient absorption into the soil and regrowth”.
Artists must work exclusively with animal faeces on paper surfaces and organisers say human waste is strictly prohibited.
Entries will be judged on creativity, interpretation of the theme and artistic quality by a panel of judges and public voting.
Registrations open in September, with entries due in early October.
Shortlisted artworks will go on display from November 26 to December 7, with the winners announced on December 8.
