Art history series Finding the Archibald, presented by Rachel Griffiths, takes a deep dive into the 100-year history of the Archibald Prize to find one portrait that encapsulates the changing face of Australia.
Rachel Griffiths said: “It’s been a thrill to collaborate with Mint Pictures on
Finding The Archibald because I’m a huge art enthusiast and have been surrounded by art all my life – my mum was an artist and I’m married to an artist. And so being asked to look at thousands of portraits was a pleasure, although being challenged to single out just ‘one’ was a confronting mission.
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An actor with Down syndrome whose portrait has been entered in the Archibald Prize says he hopes the artwork will inspire conversations about inclusivity.
Gerard O Dwyer and artist Rita Karagelinian worked together on the portrait, called Conversations with a leading man , which they delivered together to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Ms Karagelinian said the title and painting captured Mr O’Dwyer’s active lifestyle.
“I feel like there s a bit of sparkle in this portrait of Gerard as well as a lot of determination drive and passion,” she told SBS News. She said she admires the actor’s clear speech and ability to connect with people.
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Since it was first established in 1921, the Archibald Prize has drawn plenty of headlines with its controversies, occasional legal stoushes, and personal triumphs.
So itâs perhaps fitting that Sydney mixed media artist James Powditch has pinched the news headlines to create his latest entry for the prestigious portrait prize on its 100th birthday.
Artist James Powditch with his portrait of Kerry OâBrien.
Credit:Louise Kennerley
After painting Labor leader Anthony Albanese in 2020, Powditch has lionised another of his lifelong heroes, veteran ABC journalist Kerry OâBrien.
The six-time Walkley Award-winning OâBrien is painted twice in black silhouette to show the fine line the journalist walks between his public and private persona, and a man looking back over a long career and forward to life post-journalism.
John Quin
, March 6th, 2021 09:38
John Quin lauds the paintings of the Australian indigenous artist Vincent Namatjira
Vincent Namatjira - MCA Foyer Wall, MCA. credit: Daniel Boud
“It only took 99 years”
The quote is from Vincent Namatjira’s recent acceptance speech after earning Australia’s prestigious Archibald Prize at the tale end of last year, the first time an indigenous painter had won in almost a hundred years of its existence. Namatjira’s triumphs continued only a couple of weeks ago in February with the unveiling of an enormous 14 x 9 metre mural at the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay, downtown Sydney. You don’t get a much more central exhibiting space as a contemporary artist in Australia than that. The museum’s proximity to the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House (not to mention the glorious views from MCA’s café) make it an entirely appropriate venue for Namatjira’s success. A well-deserved if belated achievement because Namatjira is, fo
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