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Darling Portrait Prize 2020 Finalist
JAYA (Ja-yah): proper noun – derived from Sanskrit, meaning ‘victory’. ISM (izm): noun – a distinctive practice, system or philosophy; typically a political ideology or an artistic movement.
My subject, Jaya Suartika, is an Adelaide-based artist. His skin is almost entirely covered in tattoos, with only his face devoid of ink. Jaya says initially he chose to get tattoos because of the punk, anti-establishment side of it. He was in the punk scene and it was a kind of ‘fuck you’ response to the norm. His attitude has changed now, and his inked skin has evolved to both reflect his aesthetic preferences and depict symbols of personal significance.
The Darling Prize is a new biennial prize for Australian portrait painters, painting Australian sitters. The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.
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