Art & Theatre 17th Dec 2020 10:29 AM
Premium Content An intense, piercing image of the Kurdish-Iranian journalist and author Behrouz Boochani has won the 2020 Archibald Prize People s Choice at the Art Gallery of NSW this morning. The large, realistic work was painted by Lennox Head artist Angus McDonald who last year made a film about Boochani and his struggle to leave harsh detention on Manus Island where he was being held as a refugee. Boochani could not be at the Art Gallery of NSW because he is living in New Zealand. McDonald said he was thrilled to receive the public s vote. It s the highest compliment to receive the vote of the public, for me as the artist but I suspect even more for Behrouz, who despite never even setting foot on the mainland, has earned the respect, admiration and even the love of so many Australians for his writing, his art, and his tireless struggle against captivity until he got to New Zealand last year, McDo
2020 ANZ People’s Choice award winner Angus McDonald for his work “Behrouz Boochani”. Photo: Mim Stirling, AGNSW
SIX-TIME Archibald Prize finalist Angus McDonald was awarded the $3500 People’s Choice award chosen from entries to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes.
He won for his portrait of Kurdish-Iranian writer, poet, filmmaker and journalist Behrouz Boochani, who now lives in New Zealand after being granted refugee status in July.
McDonald, who is based in Lennox Head, NSW, first made contact with Boochani in 2018 while he was creating his short film “Manus” about Manus Island, where Boochani was held by the federal government for over six years as a refugee.
Portrait of Behrouz Boochani by Angus McDonald wins Archibald people s choice award
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Angus McDonald s portrait of author, journalist, artist and academic Behrouz Boochani.
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A portrait of the Kurdish writer and refugee Behrouz Boochani has been voted the fan favourite at this year s Archibald Prize portrait exhibition.
Key points:
Boochani was detained on Manus Island after arriving in Australia by boat in 2013, only managing to leave for New Zealand in 2019
McDonald said winning the people s choice award was the highest compliment
Boochani said he believed the work resonated with the public because people see it as a symbol of hope and resistance
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Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani has never stepped foot in Australia and he will never see his arresting portrait hung on the walls of the Art Gallery of NSW.
Artist Angus McDonald says the public s deep respect and admiration for Boochani, forged during his tireless six-year struggle against the federal government s mandatory offshore detention policy, is why his portrait has been crowned people s choice in 2020 Archibald Prize.
Angus McDonald s Behrouz Boochani.
Credit:Mim Stirling He truly is an inspirational and exceptional man, the artist said. The most valuable thing for me has been getting to know him, working with him, collaborating, being able to call him a friend, and eventually being able to make this portrait. That whole experience has been very enriching for me. Winning the people s choice award has been an unexpected bonus that I share with Behrouz.