MY FAVOURITE AUSTRALIAN

My Favourite Australian is a project developed in collaboration between the National Portrait Gallery, ABC TV and the people of Australia. Early in 2008, the ABC commissioned video portraits by twenty-three artists and filmmakers of a selection of well known and little-known Australians who were voted for by the Australian public.

I was invited to create video portraits of three very different subjects. The portrait of Sir William Deane, Governor-General 1996-2001, was created from ABC archival material. It provides an unfamiliar point of engagement for the viewer with a very public figure. The portrait of Dian Wellfare, human rights activist and founder of Origins NSW, is of a woman whose life was marked at an early age by profound loss, and who turned her loss into support for people around the world separated by adoption. Saturated colours and lush landscapes provide a surreal backdrop to the third portrait, of Ruth Lewis, animal rescuer and president of the Ipswich Koala Protection Society.

The video portraits are currently on show at the new National Portrait Gallery until 1 March 2009. The exhibition will then tour regional Australia, and Australian high commissions and embassies overseas. They are also available for viewing on the ABC website along with a “making of” TV documentary about the project.

Images

Still from: Merilyn Fairskye, Ruth Lewis, 2008
Single-channel video, duration 02:30
Produced in association with Australian Broadcasting Corporation
© 2008 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Still from: Merilyn Fairskye, William Deane, 2008
Single-channel video, duration 03:00
Produced in association with Australian Broadcasting Corporation
© 2008 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Still from: Merilyn Fairskye, Dian Wellfare 1951-2008, 2008
Single-channel video, duration 03:00
Produced in association with Australian Broadcasting Corporation
© 2008 Australian Broadcasting Corporation