Newcastle artist Nigel Milsom has been listed as a finalist the Archibald Prize for the fourth time.
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His work, Judo house part 8 (a perfect light), is an intriguing self-portrait in oil that features two images of him on the single linen canvas.
Milsom was one of 51 finalists for the $100,000 portrait prize named on Thursday by the Art Gallery of NSW. The winner will be named on Friday, May 10, at the gallery.
Milsom won the prize in 2015 with a portrait of Charles Waterstreet, a friend who was also his barrister. He was a been finalist in the competition in 2010 and 2012, with images of his friend, artist Adam Cullen, and his art dealer, Kerry Crowley.
"I guess the motivation, one day I did get up and look in the mirror and, thought, far out man, is that really me," Milsom said in an interview with the Newcastle Herald. "You know when you get that experience. You sort of do a double-take and you do question whether you know yourself I guess."
In his artist statement for the entry, Milsom said, "The startling thing was not only did I not know the person being reflected in the mirror, but I was certain the person looking at the reflection was not me."
Milsom was also named as a finalist for the Sulman Prize on Thursday by the Art Gallery of NSW. This work, also entitled judo-house Pt 8 (a perfect light), depicts a little girl, London Daisy, the daughter of his friends Ercan and Angie Ersan, in flight on a child's swing.
Milsom painted the image after reviewing sketches he made during the visit to a park with the Ersans. "She reminded me of a bee buzzing about a flower," he wrote in his artist's statement.
Twenty-seven finalists were named for the $40,000 Sulman Prize. Milsom won the Sulman in 2012.
Milsom, 43, works from a studio in his Wickham home.
"You kind of enter each subject thinking you can't do it, there's no possibility," he said during the Herald interview. "But then, you get there . . . you get there eventually."
Many leading artists were named finalists, including Ken Done in the Sulman and Wynne (landscape) prizes.
2018 Kilgour Prize winner Natasha Walsh is an Archibald finalist along with Central Coast artist Jordan Richardson, and Loribelle Spirovski, a previous "People's Choice" winner in the Kilgour.
Jim Kellar
Jim Kellar writes about culture, art, food, drinks and music. He's been a journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1997. jkellar@newcastleherald.com.au
Jim Kellar writes about culture, art, food, drinks and music. He's been a journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1997. jkellar@newcastleherald.com.au
