We are delighted to announce Tom Fairley’s ‘Is Our Past Set in Stone?’ as the winner of our annual grand prize of £7,500!
Our judges loved Tom’s work and felt it epitomised what The John Byrne Award is all about; to encourage thought and dialogue about the values that impact collective consciousness in Scotland, through the creative arts.
Designed to mimic the style of Georgian architectural engravings, Tom’s entry impressed the judging panel both for the technical prowess of its presentation, and for the thought-provoking and unconventional perspective it offers on an increasingly polarised topic. The judging panel included award-winning journalist Alex Renton, veteran BBC broadcaster and events host, Clare English, and architect at 7N Architects, Andrew Piggot, who unanimously selected the entry from a shortlist of ten other, highly competitive entries.
Member of the judging panel, Clare English, said, “I love the idea that, in the midst of what has become such a binary debate, this project literally gives us another perspective on the question of what to do with these statues. I think Tom’s entry makes a very brave, strong statement on a hugely contemporary issue“