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| DownUnder | May 2003 |
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Archibald Prize won by Geoffrey Dyer The Archibald Prize is undoubtedly Australia's most prestigious art award for portraiture. J. F. Archibald (the founder) intended the prize to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Since 1921, the Archibald Prize has been awarded to many of Australia's leading fine artists - including William Dobell, George Lambert and the slightly notorious ex-heroin addict Brett Whiteley. Geoffrey Dyer was the 2003 winner, a 55 year old "conservative drinker" and self-confessed footy addict, with his portrait of Tasmanian Richard Flanagan, author of the highly popular "Gould's Book of Fish". Often criticised as "airy-fairy" and "overly arty", the Archibald judging lived up to its name -- a noisy judging deadlock was smashed at the last moment over the last handful of finalists. The reaction in the room to Dyer's win was surprise, as always, and characteristically muted. It didn't worry Dyer at all, who quipped that he "hadn't won something this big since the 1955 Royal Hobart Show". But regardless of any debate or contention, Geoffery now joins the elite of Australia's portrait painters, finally earning his notoriety after six previous failed attempts at the prize. Richard Flanagan, the painter's friend and subject, missed the judging, as he was on a book tour overseas. His agent reported on the day that Richard had been "drinking with a Slovenian rock star" and had not yet heard the news. The portrait itself was painted in just two sittings at Dyer's favourite hotel, the Republic Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania. As Dyer drawled, "The $35,000 prize might just pay off my bar tab ... maybe."
See you all in the next issue! Ian McPherson |
