Portrait of Senior Territorian winner announced

NT Government

6 December 2021

Wisdom, benignity, humility and humour radiate from the subject of the expressionistic painting that has taken out the top prize in this year’s Portrait of a Senior Territorian art award.

Darwin artist Thomas Higgs’s portrait, Matriarch and Pioneer Garlil, is a powerful representation of the 97 year-old woman who was born under a paperbark tree on her mother’s country at Mount Borradaile, near Kakadu.

The deep impasto technique used by Higgs creates a sense of movement which brings the subject to life, while the use of archival newspaper cuttings reflects the many stories that have been published about Garlil.

The winning artist, from a field of 37 finalists, has received $7000 prize money with the artwork to be acquired by the Northern Territory Government for its permanent collection.

Second prize, worth $2000, was awarded to Jose Victor Patalinghug for his portrait of Adrian ‘Wildhorse’ Lantjin. Judges found the portrait captured the senior man’s energy, with the framing of the work relaying an intimacy and the size of the portrait dominating the viewer’s field of vision.

The $500 third prize was awarded to Dr Al Strangeways for her portrait of Dr Patricia Miller AO. The work was described by the judges as a finely detailed and accomplished portrait in the photorealist manner, that captures the warmth and softness of the sitter.

A commendation was awarded to Catherine Miles for her portrait of Aboriginal health practitioner Iris Patricia Raye.

Funded annually by the NT Government, the Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award has been running for 23 years.

The exhibition, which opened at Parliament House today, will on display until Sunday 19 December.

Voting is now open for the $1000 People’s Choice Award until 19 December, either online at nt.gov.au/portrait-of-a-senior-territorian [https://MMB%20-%20Portrait%20of%20a%20Senior%20Territorian%202021%20winner.DOCX], or in-person at the exhibition.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech:

“The Portrait of a Senior Territorian, which began as a one-off award in 1999 to mark the International Year of the Older Person, is now an iconic, much anticipated, annual celebration of our artists and seniors.

“The award showcases our visual storytellers; the achievements and contributions our seniors make to their communities; artistic excellence; and creativity.

“In a shout-out to those caring for our communities during the current pandemic, many of this year’s entries portray medical and public health professionals.

“Works will be on display at Parliament House for the next two weeks and I urge everyone to come and view the exhibition, which is certainly one of my arts calendar favourites.”

/Public Release. View in full here.