HIDDEN FACES
The 2021 Victorian Salon des Refusés
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This portrait was submitted to the 2021 Archibald Prize,
and is in now in the Collection of the Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale. click on artwork to enlarge
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Cat #31 Kerrie Warren
BLACK SWAN, Dr Aunty Eileen Harrison Synthetic Polymer & Enamel on Linen 180 cm high x 300 cm wide NFS Artist’s Statement BLACK SWAN, is a portrait of Dr. Aunty Eileen Harrison - Kurnai Woman, respected Elder, fellow artist and a dear friend. When Eileen was nine years old, living at the Lakes Tyers Mission (Bung Yarnda) in East Gippsland, she experienced a profound spiritual attachment to a black swan. Eileen has spoken about this experience many times and painted the Black swan as symbolising a connection to self. It seemed only natural for me to paint Eileen as the ‘Black Swan’ - strong, determined, graceful…spreading her magnificent wings to show off striking white feathers. As the portrait evolved, I sensed the presence of an angel. |