NewsBite

Melbourne artist Peter Wegner sketches two Kew residents for exhibition

Two Kew residents had one thing in common when they were selected by artist Peter Wegner to feature in a coming exhibition.

Melbourne artist Peter Wegner (left) starts his sketch of Ron Taft, to feature in an exhibition. Picture: Hamish Blair
Melbourne artist Peter Wegner (left) starts his sketch of Ron Taft, to feature in an exhibition. Picture: Hamish Blair

Two Kew residents will feature in a ‘one of a kind’ Melbourne exhibition after being selected due to one common feature they share — their age.

Four-time Archibald Prize finalist and 2006 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize winner Peter Wegner visited Kew Gardens Aged Care to sketch Irene Boulton and Ron Taft.

The duo will be part of an exhibition which shows 100 portraits of people who are 100 years of age.

Mr Taft, who turns 100 in June 2020, was born in Canterbury and was a Professor of Psychology.

He was married for 60 years, having three children, before his wife died 14 years ago.

Mr Taft said he was “very happy” with the end result.

“I enjoyed meeting him and talking to him during the course of the visit,” he said.

MORE: GENAZZANO’S MOST OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF ALL TIME

SLEEPY POTS NURTURE KEW GIRL’S CREATIVE SPIRIT

Mr Wegner, who completed a smaller version of the same project in 2014, when he sketched 10 centenarians for an exhibit called 1000 Years, said at the time it was about capturing their experience.

“It’s about sitting down in front of them, looking at them, that human experience of their whole life when they’re talking to you,” he said.

The exhibition will be on show next year.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/inner-east/melbourne-artist-peter-wegner-sketches-two-kew-residents-for-exhibition/news-story/dfb663fd0488708ab10ae4d76a712308