Archibald Prize 2020: Indigenous actor Meyne Wyatt wins Packing Room Prize
Actor and writer Meyne Wyatt made history today after his self-portrait — his first painting in a decade — won the Archibald’s prestigious Packing Room Prize in Sydney today.
NSW
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A self portrait by Camperdown actor and writer Meyne Wyatt won the Packing Room Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW today, and is now in the running for the main Archibald Prize to be announced next week.
Wyatt said it was the first time he had painted in 10 years. All his acting work was postponed during the pandemic and he had returned to art as a “COVID project”.
His mother Susan thought the self portrait was good, and urged him to enter it in the prestigious Archibald. Susan Wyatt was a finalist in the Archibald in 2003 with a portrait of Doris Pilkington, author of the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence.
“Mum was going, ‘you have to get in there and compete’,” Wyatt said.
He now becomes the first Indigenous Australian to win a prize in the Archibald, Wynne or Sulman Prize trio.
The Packing Room Prize is chosen by the first line of contact between Archibald hopefuls and the AGNSW — the team of experienced art handlers who move artworks around the gallery and hang them on the walls.
Head packer Brett Cutherbertson said he recognised Wyatt when he got out of an Uber and lugged his big painting up to the dock.
“I didn’t know his name which I’m very embarrassed by, because he’s been in everything,” Cuthbertson said.
“And when he said he hadn’t painted for 10 years and just did it as a COVID project, I thought ‘that’s a fantastic story’.”
Cutherberton recognised Wyatt from the film The Sapphires and the ABC series Mystery Road.
For Wyatt, it’s a win for himself and for his Perth-based mum.
“She’s always been encouraging,” he said.
“I don’t know if I was even any good. But she’s always been that guiding force along my journey.”
The Archibald this year received a record 1068 entries from around Australia. The AGNSW trustees judge the prize, to be announced next Friday (September 25).
Of the 55 artists in the running this year, 22 per cent are first-time finalists.
Meyne Wyatt hit the headlines earlier this year after he delivered a monologue about racism on the ABC’s Q and A program.