Kerry's Visit to Heath at the Archibald

[sel]

Thank you  Penthesilea and MaineWriter!
That  photo gives a very good idea of how large the canvas is.

[Kerry]

Thank you  Penthesilea and MaineWriter!
That  photo gives a very good idea of how large the canvas is.

I personally don't agree that big = best when it comes to fine art. 

For example, take a look at the hideous monstrosity that won the Archibald this year:

Even the title is an over-winded, pretentious wank - "You are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella." Yetch! 

By comparison, Vincent Fantauzzo's painting is succinctly titled "Heath." 

[sel]

Hi Kerry,
I agree with you: large doesn't necesserily means best. However, because of the three Heaths I thought that  something on a larger scale would represent this very original portrait better. Although I love going to art exibitions, museums, unfortunately I am no art expert.

I don't like the picture who won first prize at all.  I'd  really like someone to explain to me the criteria they use to choose the winner!

[Kerry]

Hi Kerry,
I agree with you: large doesn't necesserily means best. However, because of the three Heaths I thought that  something on a larger scale would represent this very original portrait better. Although I love going to art exibitions, museums, unfortunately I am no art expert.

I don't like the picture who won first prize at all.  I'd  really like someone to explain to me the criteria they use to choose the winner!

From what I understand, sel, the terms of the Archibald bequest state that an annual prize is to be awarded to the best portrait painting, preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics. Both artist and subject must be Australasian and the painting must have been painted from life (not from a photograph) in the past 12 (?24?) months.

Many unknown artists get around the requirement to paint "some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics" by submitting self portraits. The rationale being that the very fact that they have been chosen to hang in the Archibald makes them "distinguished."

Click here for more information about the Archibald Prize:

http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/home

[sel]

Hi Kerry,
Living in Italy and not knowing much about Autralia, apart from Heath I don't know (as in having never heard of) any of the Autralian personalites taking part at this year exibition.
In any case I find Heath's portrait the most original.

[Kerry]

Hi Kerry,
Living in Italy and not knowing much about Autralia, apart from Heath I don't know (as in having never heard of) any of the Autralian personalites taking part at this year exibition.
In any case I find Heath's portrait the most original.

Me too, sel. I love the triple portrait of Heath and think it should have won. I saw the director of the Art Gallery of NSW, Edmund Capon, interviewed on TV on the night of the announcement and he said he had never see such a close race before. Apparently, the Trustees were in lock-down and couldn't decide between the two paintings for the longest time. I suspect it was sentimentality  that eventually won the day.     

[Kerry]

Yee-Haw! It has just been announced that the Vincent Fantauzzo portrait of Heath won the People's Choice Award in this year's Archibald Prize. 

Visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to vote for the painting they think should have won the Archibald Prize. Many thousands of people voted this year and it was the portrait of Heath that won! 

Go here to the official Archibald Prize website to read all about it:

http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/winners/peoples_choice

[sel]

Thank you Kerry! I am  absolutely delighted that Heath's portrait won the People's choice award.
It is a really a nice gesture from his mother to donate it to the gallery for all to see and appreciate. I ardently hope the gallery will make it travel around the world.

[Meryl]

That's great news, Kerry!  I think that painting deserves all the attention it can get.  I'm not at all surprised it was the popular favorite. 

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

A couple of Masterpieces (times 3 = 6):