Local artist, Carl Gopal has entered a portrait of Perth MLA John Hyde into this year’s Archibald Prize.
The Archibald is seen as Australia’s most prestigious award for portraiture and entries need to depict a person distinguished in art, letters, science or politics.
According to Gopal, John Hyde was the ideal subject for his portrait as he is not only an openly gay politician but has a strong background in the arts- a mélange often explored in Gopal’s work.
‘In Australia, we really separate the arts beyond politics and that’s a bad thing,’ he said.
‘We create politicians who don’t understand culture and who don’t understand the nuances of life and history and therefore, the people that they’re supposed to represent.
‘But in John’s case, it was really reflecting someone who has dealt with the arts; who has dealt with poetry and is involved in political life too.’
Hyde said that while sitting still for long periods of time during the painting of the portrait was disconcerting, he was impressed by Gopal’s ability to draw on the personal influences of his subject.
‘He’s incorporated Kimberly colours from my time running Theatre Kimberly in the north-west and the subtle reference to my experience of the tsunami in Thailand is there too,’ said Hyde.
‘Carl’s interpretation of my careers in the theatre and politics was the most amazing aspect.’
The portrait depicts Hyde in the form of a Shakespearian bust and includes references to the actor John Wilkie Booth who assassinated Abraham Lincoln at the Ford Theatre.
‘I’d actually met a great-grandson of Booth in Perth a couple of weeks before the sitting and we’d both spent time at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the 1980’s,’ said Hyde.
These references reflect Gopal’s views of politics and art being irrevocably entwined and also encourage the viewer to ‘read’ the painting rather than simply looking at it.
‘My concept of political content is very woven with many other things,’ he said.
‘Throughout the history of art you’ve always got politics, and there are many aspects of theatre in parliament.
‘I do fairly layered, intimate stories and I guess my paintings still ask the readers to read and to get to know the world, to get to know their history and in order to understand what it’s saying.’
Finalists in this year’s Archibald prize will be announced on March 17.
To view more of Carl Gopal’s work go to: www.carlgopal.com
Amy Henderson
