Laura Jones's portrait of the author Tim Winton has won the 2024 Archibald Prize. Photograph courtesy of the artist, The Gallery of New South Wales and Jenni Carter. Laura Jones has become the 12th woman to win the Archibald Prize with her portrait of acclaimed Australian author Tim Winton.
The artist, 42, said she met the author at an environmental advocacy event where they connected over an interest in climate activism. Jones called him an “inspiration to me as both an artist and as a human being” and said she painted the author over two hours in his home in Fremantle, Western Australia.
“He rang me this morning to say he thought he looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he does. We do,” she said of protecting the environment.
The Sydney-based artist, who beat 56 other finalists to win this year’s prize, takes home $100,000. Jones later said she was so nervous she was “shaking like a leaf”.
Of painting one of her literary heroes – Jones studied “Cloudstreet” at school and the Archibald’s bequest states the artist must depict a painting ‘preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics’ – Jones described Winton as a “timeless character”.
“We spoke a lot about printmaking and the history of printmaking as it relates to activism during our conversation,” she told T Australia. “I majored in printmaking at art school and have a quite strong monotype printing practice, and so I approached the painting as if it was a monotype. I wanted it to be quite immediate and fresh, direct, but a bit dreamy as well.
“I wanted to let his face be the centre of the composition.”
Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu wins the Wynne Prize 2024
Yolŋu elder and distinguished artist Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu from Yirrkala in the Northern Territory has won the Wynne Prize 2024 for her large scale bark painting Nyalala gurmilili.
The painting depicts the miwatj, or ‘sunrise side’ in Yolŋu Matha. It relates to the north-easternmost part of Arnhem Land, NT, that receives the first light as the sun rises in the east.
After receiving the news that she had won the Wynne Prize 2024, Yunupiŋu said: “I am one of seven sisters. There are only three of us left now. The songs of this painting were given to me by our father, Muŋgurrawuy. It shows the songs of the seven sisters in the stars crying. Now I am crying. But this time with happiness.”
Naomi Kantjuriny wins the Sulman Prize 2024
Respected Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) community Elder Naomi Kantjuriny has won the Sir John Sulman Prize 2024 and $40,000 for her work Minyma mamu tjuta, which depicts mamu, good and bad spirits that come in different forms and with varying powers.
A first-time Sulman finalist, Kantjuriny is the third Indigenous Australian to win the Sulman Prize.
“The story of the mamu is a story we sing and dance to,” she said. “Mamu are good and bad spirits, sometimes they hold scary stories that teach lessons to the grandkids, sometimes they are funny and joyful stories that make us all laugh. Mamu also protect us from illness and danger.
“Our culture is in everything we do, and I hope culture will be celebrated at Tjala Arts forever, but today is a happy day,” she added.
