Search

Vincent Namatjira's acrylic painting, "Gina," is part of his ensemble Australia in Colour (2021), which features prominent Australians and cultural heroes. Namatjira's paintings distort the features of his subjects, including Gina Rinehart, Tony Abbott, and Queen Elizabeth. The concept of a portrait as a moral physiognomy, where appearance reflects character, is explored. The article also discusses the control that sitters have over their portrait image and the historical acceptance of unflattering portraits by the British royal family. The author argues against removing Namatjira's painting of Gina Rinehart and criticizes the newly unveiled commissioned portrait of King Charles III. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of freedom of expression in art. [Extracted from the article]