John Olsen’s ‘chook raffle’ winner gifted to the people of NSW

More than four years ago, in the autumn of 2019, celebrated artist John Olsen was enjoying a long lunch at Rose Bay’s Catalina restaurant. His dining companions were historian Ross Fitzgerald and the late Barry Humphries.

As the afternoon wore on, with Olsen doing all the drinking for the three old friends (“Barry and I were then 50 years sober”, says Fitzgerald), conversation turned to the fate of Olsen’s 2005 Archibald Prize winner, Self-Portrait Janus-Faced, after the artist’s death.

Louise and Tim Olsen with Art Gallery of New South Wales director Michael Brand (right). Credit: Oscar Colman

“John and Barry decided that, soon after John died, his remarkable self-portrait should be gifted to the nation,” says Fitzgerald.

And, now, some 18 months after Olsen’s death, aged 95, the work has been gifted to the Art Gallery of NSW by Olsen’s surviving children, gallerist Tim Olsen and artist Louise Olsen.

“My father always said that it was a picture that deserved to be in an institution,” says Tim Olsen. “Of course we’ve got competition from the National Portrait Gallery and also the National Gallery but we thought that really it belongs in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with John being a New South Welshman.”

Janus is the Roman god of doorways, passages and beginnings, among other things. Janus is generally portrayed with having two faces, one looking forward, the other back, which is how Olsen depicts himself in Self-Portrait Janus-Faced, with the setting sun illuminating the top of his head.

John Olsen in 2005 with his Archibald Prize winning work.Credit: Robert Pearce

“It was a very introspective work of John’s,” says Tim Olsen. “Janus was able to look out to see impending danger, but also to look back to make sure that the community was safe. And John used that metaphor as a way of looking forward and looking back at a pivotal point in his life.”

As Olsen explained in his accompanying artist’s statement: “When you get to my age you have a hell of a lot to think about.”

Olsen’s relationship with the Archibald Prize had its contentious moments, especially in 1989 when his widely tipped self-portrait Donde Voy didn’t win. Wounded by the judges’ choice that year, he famously dismissed the prize as a “chook raffle”.

But he was clearly thrilled when he got the nod in 2005. “I have pulled a rabbit out of the hat,” he crowed to the assembled crowd at the gallery.

Janus-Faced also alludes to one of Olsen’s other great passions.

“If you look down, you’ll see a table covered in seafood, which is symbolic of his love of cooking,” says Tim Olsen. “I once said to him, ‘Are you frightened of dying?’ He said, ‘Death is not what frightens me, but what does concern me is what am I going to eat’.”

AGNSW director Michael Brand said the gift would add to the gallery’s holdings of more than 130 Olsen works.

“We are pleased that his desire for this work to enter our collection has been fulfilled, ensuring the cultural memory of the prize will be held for future generations,” he said.