Louise Hearman’s looming half-figure of Barry Humphries may have scooped the prize,but in a just alternate universe, Nick Stathopoulos’s portrait of Deng Thiak Adut or Marc Etherington’s portray of Ken Done would have been rewarded• Louise Hearman wins 2016 Archibald prize with Barry Humphries portrait
• Archibald 2016 finalists – in pictures One of the lessons of the Archibald prize is that it’s impervious to criticism. That’s not to say that the winner or the finalists, and the hang or the publicity can’t be criticised,but rather it’s the prize itself as a cultural institution thats beyond criticism.
The prize runs by its own rules, which are really just a set of guidelines – more like a surrealist parlour game where inclusions are governed by exceptions. certain, or the winning portrait can be of a person famous in the sciences,arts or letters, but it can just as easily be a portray of a cop, or a celebrity chef,a comedian or round-the-world yachtsperson. But does it have to be a portray? Does it have to be from life rather than a photo? Does the subject have to be Australian? Look, all these things can be worked out … Related: Louise Hearman wins Archibald prize for Barry Humphries portrait Related: The Archibald prize finally hit gender parity but where are the women on the walls? Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com