Winner Archibald Prize 2020
Vincent Namatjira describes his portrait subject, Adam Goodes, as ‘a proud Aboriginal man who stands strong for his people’.
He says: ‘I first met Adam in 2018, when he visited the school in Indulkana where I live, as part of his work promoting Indigenous literacy. When I saw the documentary The final quarter about Adam’s final season of AFL, my guts were churning as I relived Adam’s experiences of relentless racism on and off the field. Memories of my own experiences were stirred up and I wanted to reach out and reconnect with Adam.
‘We share some similar stories and experiences – of disconnection from culture, language and Country, and the constant pressures of being an Aboriginal man in this country. We’ve also both got young daughters and don’t want them to have to go through those same experiences.
‘When I was younger and growing up in the foster system in Perth, Indigenous footballers were like heroes to me. Goodesy is much more than a great footballer though, he took a strong stand against racism and said, “enough is enough”. I stand strong with you too, brother.’
Namatjira has painted himself alongside Goodes in this portrait. It is the fourth time in the Archibald Prize for the Western Arrernte artist, who was born in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in 1983.
Wynne Prize 2020
“I am a Western Aranda man. My family believe giant caterpillars called the Yeperenye became Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges in the distant past). The giant caterpillars entered through gaps in the ranges.
In this painting the trees are a symbol for caterpillars coming through to the Country, and they travelled from Mount Zeil past Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to Emily Gap. I believe Emily Gap to be part of the West MacDonnell Ranges (although other people refer to them as the East MacDonnell Ranges). I got all the ideas for the painting from my father, Ruben Pareroultja, because he was a Western Aranda man.”
Hubert Pareroultja, 2020
Sulman Prize 2020
“The Christian doctrine of original sin prompts me to examine the ideals and principles surrounding faith, creation stories, motherhood, cultural heritage and gender roles. These themes frequently inform my work, as my practice negotiates the tensions that exist within my multiple identities as a Filipina, an Australian, as a mother and as an artist.
As original sin is an inherited condition, it provokes the consideration of what is inherited by our children – our physical semblance, virtue, ethnicity, culture and perhaps, indeed, sin.
The divine portrays my three children, who often collaborate with me in my creative processes; the pen and paint markings in this piece were made by Maella, aged 5; Santiago, aged 3; and Sarita, aged 1.”
Marikit Santiago, 2020
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 26 September 2020 and runs until Sunday 10 January 2021.