#art, What a Portrait!

This amazing portrait of Gina Rinehart (the richest women in Australia) was painted by Vincent Namatjira, an aboriginal Australian painter from Alice Springs, Northern Territory. The 40 year old Namatjira is well recognised in his native land, having won the Archibald Prize several times. He is also the great-grandson of watercolourist Albert Namatjira. He began painting in 2012 and was taught art by his wife Natasha. His foray into portrait painting began the following year and his first portrait was of his great-grandfather Albert. Since he began painting his work has been exhibited… When asked about his style or of comparisons with his great-grandfather, this is what Namatjira had to say: «…I paint the way I paint, with acrylic, and he paints with watercolour. And I paint bold portraiture figuratives and modern, and he paints watercolour. He paints about the land; I paint about the people and the Country.»

Reference the portrait of Gina Rinehart, well she has responded rather angrily and approached the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) to request that her portrait be taken down, according to local media… Aboriginal artist Vincent Namatjira has replied, «We are all equal in Australia… No matter what heritage you are, or where you come from… We are all Australian.» Apparently there have been other complaints about the portraits that hang in the gallery, but the artists replies simply that he paints the world as he sees it… Although it is good to have public discussions on art and on what hangs in public galleries, removing the portrait (or portraits) would be tantamount to censorship and it cannot happen. The paintings must stay whether the subjects like them or hate them.

OTHER PORTRAITS BY NAMATJIRA: