Australia’s richest art prize, the $150,000 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (DMNPP), accepts entries of original artworks from Australian artists, capturing Australians from all walks of life, whether a public figure or someone from their circle of experience. Works are painted at least partly from life with the sitter known to the artist and aware of the artist’s intention to submit.
A blend of well known and unknown Australians are among the 151 portraits of the 2021 DMNPP semi-finalists artworks, including Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese MP, horse trainer Gai Waterhouse AO, and Australian personalities Asher Keddie, Akmal Saleh, Matt Preston, Jack Charles, Peter Overton AM and John Howard (actor). In addition, self-portraits and portraits of fellow artists were submitted as a reflection of the lockdown conditions that Australia has experienced in recent times.
Eleanor Noir, Wintering
This year’s judges are Emeritus Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia Daniel Thomas AM, prominent Australian artist and 2017 DMNPP winner Tim Storrier AM and Peter Moran, Managing Director of the Moran Health Care Group. Peter’s parents, Doug and Greta Moran AO, established the Moran Arts Foundation in 1988.
Storrier commented, ‘In trying to identify portraits of quality there is much more to consider than just ‘likeness of sitter’. One must consider; scale, colour, tone, composition, surface and drawing etc, all of which come into it.’
‘In the end, I look for that heightened sense of presence of the figure in space – a penetrating instant that conveys the intense physical and spiritual presence of the sitter – this can be achieved in a good portrait.’
The DMNPP finalists will be announced on Monday 1 November and the winner declared on Friday 30 November, followed by an online exhibition.
The 2021 DMNPP semi-finalists include: Margaret Ackland, Mitch Cairns, Yvette Coppersmith, Tony Costa, Dagmar Cyrulla, Graeme Drendel, James Drinkwater, Lottie Consalvo, Esther Erlich, Jasper Knight, Steve Lopes, India Mark, Darren McDonald, Eleanor Noir, Lucy O’Doherty, Lori Pensini, Rodney Pople, James Powditch, Craig Waddell, Natasha Walsh, and Michelle Zuccolo, to name a few.
For a complete list, and to view their artworks, visit www.moranprizes.com.au/gallery/portrait.
