By Luke Voogt
The Bald Archy has come to Geelong for the first time to the delight of local five-time finalist Kristen Wiadrowski.
“I’m definitely excited it’s come to Geelong and I think it’s a bit of an up yours to Melbourne,” she said.
The satirical portrait competition came to the National Wool Museum five days before its more serious namesake arrived in Geelong – a fact not lost on the Newtown mother-of-two.
“They definitely planned that to piggyback off the Archibald Prize so that’s some clever marketing by the wool museum,” the 34-year-old said.
Kristen’s latest shortlisted entry pokes fun at Nick Xenophon’s concern with cyber-security and Australia’s short-lived obsession with Pokemon Go.
“It’s definitely the one I’m least happy with – it’s the one I’ve spent the least amount time on.”
Her other entries include then Prime Minister Julia Gillard, or ‘Jules’, updating her profile picture or Clive Palmer twerking for votes.
But while Kristen’s Archy paintings were light-hearted, each was full subtle hidden meanings, she said.
“If people glanced at that they would just think ‘oh that’s just Clive Palmer twerking’. But there’s always a second meaning there if you dig a bit deeper.”
Kristen said the satirical competition was a chance to have a voice.
“Being a girl I think we’re underrepresented in politics. It’s good to have a say even if it’s from the sidelines.”
She admits she entered the Archibald Prize in 2015 with her portrait of Wouter De Backer, better known as Gotye.
“I’m a traitor – I’ve gone both ways. I’m friends with one of (Gotye’s) bandmates.”
But she preferred to avoid all the “politics” associated with the judging of the Archibald, she said.
“A lot of it has to do with the artist’s name and their subject. It doesn’t necessarily matter how good the painting is.”
The Bald Archy was all about fun “instead of making it all political,” she said.
“You don’t have to be the world’s best painter – you just have to have an idea and put it out there.”
Kristen moved to Geelong 10 years ago to study an Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts. Soon after she got a job at Geelong Gallery.
“You always hear about the starving artist,” she said. “I’m not. I’ve always had a day job and done art on the side.”
Kristen’s portrait had been on tour with the Bald Archy since February and she was amused to see it in the background of an ABC news snippet covering the launch.
“I got a real kick out of it,” she said.
Kristen said elderly art enthusiasts loved the Bald Archy despite its sometimes “offensive“ content.
“It’s always the oldies who go to the exhibition which really cracks me up.”
But the Bald Archy also appealed to younger people and those “not normally interested in art”, she said.
The exhibition visited towns across Australia like Temora and Swanpool and, now, Geelong.
Kristen invited locals to the National Wool Museum to check out the Bald Archy before it leaves on 11 November.
“I’ll be there this Saturday night answering questions or whatever,” she said.
