HIDDEN FACES
The 2024 Victorian Salon des Refusés
This portrait was submitted to the 2024 Archibald Prize
click on artwork to enlarge
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Cat#20 Ellen Palmer-Hubble
JUST A KID Oil on Italian Linen 92 cm w x 120 cm h NFS Artist’s Statement At the age of 14 John Mutsaers embarked on the adventure of moving from the Netherlands to Australia. While still ‘Dutch to the core’ John at 82 years old deeply appreciates opportunities he has embraced for over 40 years as an artist in painting and sculpture in Australia. Dutch influence saturates John’s art style which is interwoven with his warmth, sensitivity and exceptional quirkiness. His series of Goats in Boats paintings are quizzical and endearing and for John, representative of all migrants. He said, “Goats, which were also early European settlers in Australia, are curious, intelligent, and indomitable and have the ability to survive almost all conditions.” In painting John’s portrait I wanted to incorporate the symbolism he uses of goats, migrants and his Dutch heritage. For the background, I appropriated one of his paintings exhibited in his 42 solo art exhibition in 2023. The goat in the boat is literally Just a Kid and representative of John migrating at 14. For authenticity I used a traditional European palette and oil painting techniques. John is kind and very generous in sharing knowledge about art. I have had many inspiring conversations with him about painting. There are not too many people with whom you can spend endless hours discussing damar varnish, linseed oil and the importance of brushes. On John’s easel he has a note: If colour is my music then the brush is my instrument |