Bob in the Archibalds

ABC Online
A portrait of Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has been selected as a finalist for the 2009 Archibald Prize.
The first-time entry by Port Arthur-based painter Richard Onn covers three canvasses and is almost three-and-a-half metres long.

Onn says the painting aims to capture Senator Brown’s resilience, determination and strength of spirit.

It depicts a truck as a metaphor for power, money and greed with Senator Brown in a pose reminiscent of Christ On The Cross, signifying the ultimate sacrifice.

Onn says he was shocked to get a call from the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

“It took a while to sink in I can tell you,” Onn said.

“A couple of my friends are artists, and I told them and they said ‘Do you realise how big this is?’

“I said: ‘Oh no, I honestly don’t.’ But now it’s starting to sink in, so I’m very very happy.”

The $50,000 Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics.

Thirty-nine finalists have been chosen and the winner will be announced in Sydney on March 6.