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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

A colourful life, 2024

Dagmar Cyrulla

Darling Portrait Prize 2024 Finalist

synthetic polymer paint and synthetic polymer marker on linen (support: 122.0cm x 91.0cm. frame: 125.0cm x 95.0cm depth 4.6cm)

Dagmar Cyrulla
born Germany, lives Australia

A colourful life 2024
oil and synthetic polymer paint on linen

‘This is a portrait of multidisciplinary artists, Abdul Abdullah and Amrita Hepi. I wanted to paint Abdul as I admire his work and felt him to be a warm soul. When I phoned him, he said he was meeting his then soon-to-be-wife Amrita in Naarm/Melbourne where I am based. Given I love relationship narratives, I happily invited Amrita to join us. We played with different scenarios; they are both incredibly creative, dynamic, reflective and engaging. They were very comfortable together and with themselves. I wanted to capture that energy and spontaneity and the freshness of spirit I saw, and for the painting to reflect the colourful life they would have and are having together.’

Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Dagmar Cyrulla constructs contemporary narratives in her paintings and sculptures, encouraging contemplation and discussion of what it is to be human in this ever-changing and socially challenging world.


© The artist

Darling Portrait Prize 2024

Other DPP paintings from Dagmar Cyrulla

A new beginning, 2019 Dagmar Cyrulla
DPP 2020 Finalist
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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