2015 ARCHIBALD PRIZE, WYNNE & SULMAN PRIZE EXHIBITION
In a world awash with the photographic image, as ours is,how refreshing it is when The Archibald prize,Wynne & Sulman prize exhibition returns for it’s annual showing at Sydney’s, Art Gallery of N.S.W. Locally known as ” The Archibald”,
Daniel Johns by Julian Meagher
the exhibition is Australia’s most famous and prestigious exhibition for portrait painting,or portraiture. Named after it’s founder, J F Archibald, Australian born Francophile and founder of ” The Bulletin ” a politics and literary magazine, who,upon his death in 1919 bequeathed a request for an annual exhibit – the first exhibit occurred in 1921- whose stated aims were to promote portrait painting, and support Australiasian based artists whilst perpetuating the memory of great Australians.
Visiting the exhibit in it’s opening week, the several exhibition rooms quickly filled with school groups, Seniors and international visitors, who like myself jostled and squeezed around one another for clear viewing of the finalists and winners. Many finalists appear year after year, though this year also, more than 40 per cent of the successful finalists are first time entrants, with young artists well represented.In keeping with the spirit of Archibald’s wish, Australians from all walks of life such as politics, media,the arts, law and medicine feature as the finalist artists favoured subjects alongside several self portraits.Artists have portrayed their sitter/subjects either in close up head shots completely filling the canvas, traditionally seated, like Carla Fletcher’s portrait of designer/artist and co-founder of Sydney fashion house, Flamingo Park, Jenny Kee, (image shown) or in standing full length portraits as in this years winning entry Judo House pt 69 (the white bird)(image shown) of well known, local barrister,Charles Waterstreet, by his ex client & ex crim, Nigel Milsom & Tim Gregory’s ironic Self portrait as ancestors (image shown)
This year, the exhibition reveals diverse artists employing different styles,namely Naive, naturalistic, Cubist with only a few artists questioning the traditional framed picture formats. Paul Ryan’s, 13 Noahs, used mixed media like tapestries, wood and household items to present his subject actor,Noah Taylor, while artist and beautifully ,Marcus Willis’s, small and beautifully painted, El cabeceo, a 3 panelled triptych sitting atop a table.
My favourite entries this year include, Angus MacDonald’s intimate portrait (image shown),capturing a relaxed Perth singer/songwriter,Abbe May,Romanticide, Peter Churcher’s,The last portrait, intimately recording his dying mother,former National Gallery Director, Betty Churcher; the stark brilliance of other wordly white garment & bed sheets intimating her near demise, and finally, Kristin Tennyson’s, masterful rendition of maverick Q.L.D. politician, Bob Katter, Federal MP (image shown)
This year as every year, Archibald prize finalists hang alongside two smaller exhibits,The Wynne and Sulman prizes, for landscape and sculpture and Mural,Figurative,subject respectively and also provide great viewing.
Jenny Kee by Carla Fletcher
Self portrait as ancestors by Tim Gregory
Romanticide – portrait of Abbe May, by Angus MacDonald
Bob Katter Federal MP by Kristin Tennyson
This recommended exhibition is currently showing daily 10- 5 pm, until 10pm Wednesdays, until September 27 2015.
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney 2000
www.artgallerynsw.gov.au
@ArtGalleryofNSW and on FACEBOOK.