Archibald, The (ATOM Study Guide)

Synopsis

The Archibald is a prime-time series for Foxtel Arts, following a select cast of eight artists and their sitters as they bid to win the 2017 Archibald, the most coveted – and controversial – portraiture prize in Australia. This four-part series, narrated by Rachel Griffiths, gives viewers an all-access pass to the artists, their studios and the blood, sweat and tears that go into completing an Archibald portrait – from blank canvas to multi-coloured masterpiece. Critically, it also lifts the lid – for the very first time – on the judging process by the eleven trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales who must sift through more than 800 portraits to select one winner. Shot over one year and across four continents – Australia, America, Europe and Asia – The Archibald reveals the huge emotional and financial investments that go into a work of art for the nation's pre-eminent portraiture prize. It also celebrates the rich and often tumultuous history of the prize, which has courted controversy virtually from its establishment in 1921, most notably in 1943 with the furore over William Dobell's winning portrait of Joshua Smith. The cast includes three former Archibald winners: Nicholas Harding, the 2001 winner, who paints art royalty John Olsen;Wendy Sharpe, the 1996 winner, who paints award-winning composer Elena Kats-Chernin; Tim Storrier AM, the 2012 winner, who paints fellow artist McLean Edwards. It also includes serial Archibald finalists: the 2016 People's Choice winner Nick Stathopoulos, who travels to Los Angeles to paint Hollywood star Isla Fisher; three-time finalist Yvette Coppersmith, who paints Australian Human Rights Commission president Professor Gillian Triggs; and veteran war artist Dr George Gittoes AM, who travels to London to paint WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and then heads to Afghanistan to repeat his feat. And finally, two rising stars: Jason Phu, the 2015 Sulman Prize winner, who paints AFL star Lin Jong; and WA's Tessa McOnie, who paints award-winning Indigenous actor, Trevor Jamieson, and is hoping to make the finals for the first time. Previously, the public was only privy to the final portraits hung annually inside the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Now, for the first time, the full story behind these portraits, as well as the mystique of the decision-making process, is revealed.

Curriculum Links

This study guide is mainly aimed at mid to senior secondary school levels, with relevance mainly to Art and Art History (including Visual Communication and Visual Arts). It is also relevant to English, Media and Film Studies.