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Cruelty, bad taste and laughs as Bald Archies are unpacked

AS “CityNews” joined in the unpacking session at Watson Arts Centre this morning for the 2015 Bald Archy prize, it was evident that this year’s crop of satirical portraits will be a bumper one.

'Let them Eat Cake' by Murray Grelis
‘Let them Eat Cake’ by Murray Grelis

You can safely predict there will be no prizes for good taste or photographically accurate renditions of the public figures lampooned in the show, but there will be more than a few laughs. We counted no fewer than eight former winners among this year’s entrants.

'Too Secret' by Ed McMahon
‘Too Secret’ by Ed McMahon
Detail from 'Dur' by Ed McMahon
Detail from ‘Dur’ by Ed McMahon

As we predicted last week, Tasmanian Senator Jacquie Lambie and music personality Molly Meldrum lead the field in 2015, but this morning’s unpacking suggested that Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey is not too far behind them in popularity as a subject.

Detail 'Andrew Bolt with egg on his face' by Tony Sowersby
Detail ‘Andrew Bolt with egg on his face’ by Tony Sowersby

There are, to be sure, plenty of non-politicians, like James Packer and Russell Crowe, but without doubt, political figures are the front-runners, many of them portrayed with savage cruelty.

Detail from 'Archibald and the Bald Archy, a photo bomb' (Peter Batey and JF Archibald) by Xavier Ghazi
Detail from ‘Archibald and the Bald Archy, a photo bomb’ (Peter Batey and JF Archibald) by Xavier Ghazi

Although the Bald Archy show opens this week in Canberra, where founder of the award, Peter Batey, hopes it will attract attention in the Parliament House press gallery, we won’t know who actually wins until after the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is unveiled later in the year.

Detail 'The Boss- Credlina de Vil,' by Vincent de Gouw
Detail ‘The Boss- Credlina de Vil,’ by Vincent de Gouw

Meantime judge Maude the cockatoo from Coolac will have plenty of time to contemplate her final decision.

The Bald Archy Exhibition, Watson Arts Centre, Aspinall Street, Watson, every day, February 6-March 8, entry $5.

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Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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3 Responses to Cruelty, bad taste and laughs as Bald Archies are unpacked

morris martin says: 6 February 2015 at 11:16 pm

are the “Bald Archies” coming to Swanpool this year ??

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Barry O'Connor says: 4 June 2015 at 4:20 pm

Sorry for the delay, only just spotted the message. The 2015 Bald Archy Exhibition will be at the Swanpool & District Memorial Hall 2386 Midland Hwy from 4th to 19th July inclusive. Open every day 10am till 4pm. The dining room will be open for morning/afternoon tea and lunch.

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