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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.

Mia at home, 2019

Megan Hales

Darling Portrait Prize 2020 Finalist

Mia at home, 2019

I began painting Mia Wasikowska after seeing this leg in her living room. A carefully sculpted replica of Mia’s limb, it was made to be broken for a scene in a film where her character takes a fall. Ultimately the scene was cut, and the immortalised silicone part left at a former partner’s house. In a defiant act to reclaim self and body, Mia requested her leg be shipped home to Australia where, after some confusion in customs, the declared ‘artwork’ now stands. During our sitting by Mia’s green wall, I had in mind her knowing eyes and wit.

Darling Portrait Prize 2020
(More information, View all 40 paintings)

My life la Gilbun
Portrait of Brendan Nelson
Post-show blues
Respite (Simon Yates – acrobat)

Related information

Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim
Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim
Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim
Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim

Hump days

Magazine article by Jessica Bolton, 2017

Jessica Bolton navigates the parallel tracks documenting Robyn Davidson’s astonishing journey.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

Darling Portrait Prize 2020

Previous exhibition, 2020

The Darling Prize is a new biennial prize for Australian portrait painters, painting Australian sitters. The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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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