The piece was in the “$30,000 range”, says the enthusiastic art collector, and his wife wasn’t too happy about it.

The pair was about to move to London and it was probably not the most prudent time to be investing in art.

“I still remember that night very well. My wife nearly killed me,” Mark laughs.

“I think that was one of those times where I did get swept away at an auction.”

Mark says he doesn’t buy art “on that level” anymore, preferring to focus on works by young and upcoming artists who need a break.

That’s one of the reasons why the local surgeon is sponsoring the $20,000 Guirguis New Art Prize, the richest art prize in Ballarat.

Born and bred in Melbourne, Mark wants his adopted city to be recognised for the thriving artistic hub many know it to be.

“I still get very frustrated when I speak to people and they say ‘is there a gallery in Ballarat?’,” he says.

But that’s not to say Mark was always a lover of the local art scene. 

He admits it took him some time to discover places like the University of Ballarat’s Arts Academy.

 “My impression of Ballarat was that it was more of a historical city. Having lived here now, you realise that it is a thriving modern city,” he says.

“Having a contemporary art award sits well with that.”

Post Office Gallery curator Shelley Hinton describes Mark Guirguis as “our David Walsh”, referring to the enigmatic millionaire who has poured millions into Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art.

MONA has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, providing huge benefits to the Tasmanian economy.

Certainly, there is an acknowledged flow-on effect from cities with a strong contemporary art community.

“It is transformative – there is no doubt people love to see contemporary art even if it challenges them,” says Shelley.

The Guirguis New Art Prize features 11 contemporary artists from around the country, with the judges set to pick their winner this week.

The winning artist will take home a cheque and their work will be permanently acquired into the University of Ballarat’s permanent collection.

At this stage, the prize will be handed out annually, with Mark providing the backing for the first five years. 

According to Shelley, it wouldn’t be possible to get an equivalent exhibition of artists together without Mark’s support.

“Mark is an extremely generous person, there is no doubt that – he has a passion for contemporary art,” she says

“We’re very lucky to have someone who is willing to contribute and sponsor a prize to this extent.”

Speaking about the prize earlier this week, Mark looks every bit the wealthy art benefactor. 

Tall with cropped hair, he’s dressed in a navy blue pinstripe suit and wearing a watch we guess begins with the letter ‘R’ and ends with an ‘X’.

The 43-year-old is charming and open about why he chose to put his money into a local art prize. 

“I think it’s critical we preserve the Art Academy – I think it’s one of the vital cogs here in Ballarat,” he says. 

“That was really the prime motivation and also highlighting that Ballarat is a contemporary city, we’re going forward.”

As we sit in front of a piece by Brendan Van Hek, a hum can be heard from the electricity pulsing through its neon lights.

Bathed in the red light of the work, Mark tells of how he found his passion for art by attending auctions during his 20s.

He said the thrill of the auction, as well as the ability to get a hands-on appreciation of famous pieces of art, captivated him.

“The quality of work that you’d see at an auction house viewing was amazing to me,” he says.

To budding collectors, Mark suggests acquiring artwork locally, such as at the University of Ballarat’s Arts Academy End of Year Exhibition.

“Australia is a lot more accessible for art. When you go overseas, you’re talking six figure sums,” he says.

The first piece Mark ever bought was a mixed media work by John Olsen, which he still has on display in his home in Ballarat’s east.

Not everyone appreciated it at the time.

“I hung it up on the wall and I remember my friends coming over and saying ‘that looks like something someone’s painted from kindergarten’,” he laughs.

These days, Mark’s passion is contemporary sculpture and he is currently in the process of installing a piece at his four-hectare property.

He travels as part of his job and says he never misses an opportunity to view, and sometimes buy, local art. 

During one recent trip to China, he was able to visit a local artist colony and purchase some art with the help of guides.

He says there is a definite shift in the focus of the art world, both internationally towards Asia and nationally away from the big cities.

“I think there’s a bit of a shifting of the guard – Melbourne and Sydney were always traditionally the art cities,” he says.

“Places like Brisbane, Perth and Tasmania are challenging that establishment.”

Whether that means a shift to regional cities like Ballarat remains to be seen, although many are hopeful.

Shelley hopes the Guirguis New Art Prize can help contribute to a new contemporary art movement in Ballarat.

“It’s far enough away from Melbourne to draw people to the city,” she said. 

“It would be fantastic for the art community to have that aspect of living culture right here.” 

Regardless of what happens down the track, Mark is just happy to have some of the country’s best contemporary artists in Ballarat.

“Having a collection of artists like this all in one spot is really fantastic,” he said.

“They really are at the forefront of contemporary art in Australia at the moment.”