By Luke Voogt
Sophia Hewson’s shortlisted Archibald Prize might appear blissfully colourful on the surface, but it hints at her darker view of the competition’s past.
Hewson depicted “white guilt” by painting Indigenous artist and activist Richard Bell and herself skipping through a field surrounded by cartoons.
“In 96 years the prize has never been awarded to a person of colour,” she said.
“It’s a situation for which this work is no remedy.
“The Archibald Prize was named after the founding editor of a magazine – The Bulletin – known for its racist editorial declarations.”
Hewson, who grew up Geelong West, entered the prestigious portrait competition for her third time this year.
Her portrait featured in an exhibition of this year’s 43 Archibald Prize finalists, on show at Geelong Gallery until 10 December.
The 33-year-old met fellow Archibald Prize finalist Bell in New York in 2015, after his self-portrait made the finals of the contest that year.
Hewson admired Bell for his work raising important questions.
“Do we live in a nation of roughly equal opportunity? Or do we live in a fantasy land, a cracked cartoon landscape brimming with fairytale myths of freedom and democracy?
“For decades Richard Bell has worked to raise these difficult questions and to provocatively, intelligently and playfully challenge our conceptions.”
Hewson had practiced as an artist for 11 years, after graduating the Victorian College of the Arts with first class honours in 2007.
Her artistic journey saw her interview survivors of sexual assault, spend 10 days with a notorious American cult and meet porn actresses and actors in Los Angeles.
“I’m interested in breaking down our ideological beliefs and assumptions,” she said.
She also works as a support worker at a women’s walk-in centre in Melbourne.
Her work explored the “patriarchal ideology encoded in art, law, language and economy”, she said.
“I have a particular interest in feminism and women’s advocacy.”
Hewson joins a number of artists and sitters with Geelong connections.
Fellow finalist Kate Beynon won the 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize, while sitters William Luke and Remy van de Wiel have been involved in the Surf Coast for decades.
Wallington resident Janet Dawson, who won the Archibald Prize in 1973, features in the competition again in Ashley Frost’s portrait of her outside her studio.
Dawson won the portrait prize with a painting of her late husband and playwright Michael Boddy.
“I say good morning to it every morning,” the 82-year-old told the Indy earlier this year.
“After I won the prize, my brother bought it because he was so excited.”
