Archibald People’s Choice awarded to portrait of Marcia Langton
By Helen Pitt
Angus McDonald has won the 2024 Archibald Prize People’s Choice award with his portrait of Melbourne-based Indigenous academic Marcia Langton.
It is the second time the seven-time Archibald finalist has won the People’s Choice award, following his 2020 win with a painting of Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani, which a collector has donated to the Art Gallery of NSW.
Angus McDonald’s portrait of Professor Marcia Langton.Credit: Wolter Peeters / SMH
The Lennox Heads-based artist first went to Melbourne to meet Langton in February 2023, and worked for two solid months on the giant (154.5 centimetre x 271.5 centimetre) painting to perfect the expression in her eyes.
“I had wanted to get Marcia’s portrait done ahead of the Voice referendum and enter it in the 2023 competition, but that didn’t happen because I ran out of time,” he said.
Instead, he focused on completing his debut feature film Freedom is Beautiful, about two Kurdish friends, Mostafa Azimitabar and Farhad Bandesh, who spent six years in detention on Manus Island and a further 18 months in hotel detention in Melbourne.
The film premiered at last year’s Sydney International Film Festival and won the best Australian documentary at the 2023 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.
Mostafa Azimitabar with his portrait of artist and friend Angus McDonald, which is a finalist in the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW.Credit: Janie Barrett
McDonald is also a subject in this year’s Archibald, captured in a portrait by Azimitabar, known as Moz.
McDonald said he was thrilled to win the $5000 award.
“The vote of the people is such an important thing, as this is an award shared with the subject, that expresses the support, affection and admiration for Marcia.
“Spending time with Marcia was the highlight of the process. I knew she was formidable because of her work for recognition and reconciliation, but I also learnt how funny, hospitable and compassionate she was.
“I tried to capture her feeling of disappointment in her expression. This lifetime of struggle is because she cares not just about Indigenous Australians but everyone,” he said.
In 2016, McDonald took a sabbatical after 20 years and 30 solo shows to return to the Greek island of Leros, where he spent six years in his 20s.
“It was the same time as the migrant crisis, with millions fleeing the conflict in Syria and Greece was the epicentre. I decided then to change my art practice to contribute to social change and understand the issue of migration and refugees to reach people here in Australia,” he said.
“When I first started entering this prize I wasn’t sure why I was doing it. I now understand the Archibald Prize transcends the art world. It can be a great platform to raise important issues, which is why I have so much regard for it.”
Last year’s People’s Choice winner was Jaq Grantford for her portrait of Noni Hazlehurst. She was also a 2024 finalist for her portrait of ABC broadcaster Ed Le Brocq.
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibition continues at the Art Gallery of NSW until September 8, then tours to regional NSW and the Northern Territory.
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