Loribelle Spirovski wins Archibald People's Choice with finger painting
When pain made holding a brush impossible, artist Loribelle Spirovski turned to finger painting – and created her 'best work ever'.
NSW
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When crippling repetitive strain injury made it painful to hold a brush, painter Loribelle Spirovksi held grave concerns that her art practice was over.
But when renowned First Nations musician William Barton agreed to sit for a portrait to be entered in the Archibald Prize, she knew she would have to prevail.
The result was something profoundly personal, and now, award-winning.
“I had prepared everything, I had the brush in hand and I put Will’s music on and it was his voice that came out first … it truly felt like I was seized by something, something that wanted to be manifested as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Spirovski donned a pair of gloves and began painting with her hands.
The result, an oil on canvas painting entitled Finger Painting of William Barton was, on Thursday, named the Archibald Prize’s people’s choice winner – chosen by the public viewing the exhibition.
“It is nothing short of the best thing I have ever done,” Spirovski said.
“In a digitally driven world, I painted it in the most analog way possible and it felt like a bit of a screw-you to technology – you know, let’s embrace something sincere and earnest.”
Spirovski has continued to paint by hand since the Barton work and will exhibit as part of the Sydney Contemporary in September and will present her first ever landscape series later in the year.
“I feel like I didn’t decide to paint with my hands, it just happened, those moments are so few and far between as an artist,” she said.
The Archibald Prize exhibition is at the Art Gallery of NSW until August 17.
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Originally published as Loribelle Spirovski wins Archibald People's Choice with finger painting
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