Ian Frazer

Professor Ian Frazer AC (b. 1953), immunologist, is co-inventor of the technology enabling the HPV vaccines – the first cancer vaccine – used worldwide to help prevent cervical cancer. Frazer first started developing a vaccine for HPV along with his colleague, the late Dr Jian Zhou, in the 1990s. The TGA approved Gardasil in 2006, and a year later, Australia became the first country to roll out a national HPV vaccination program. For this portrait commission, the Gallery chose to bring together one of Brisbane's most eminent scientists with one of the city's most respected photographers, Marian Drew (b. 1960). Rather than creating a traditional portrait in the workplace, Drew photographed Frazer at his home overlooking the Brisbane River. 'I was very interested to portray Ian Frazer as a man of intellect, humanity and focus.' For Drew's unique torch painting technique, the sitter must remain still during the exposure time of two to five minutes. 'I wanted time to be evident in the work,' said Drew. 'My drawing with light emphasises selective aspects of the sitter and the room as well as adding light marks into the scene – this is evidence of the photographic process that builds the image but also contributes to the discourse between photography and painting in portraiture. It is intense but soft and humanistic. I think it shows some of the depth of the man.'

Commissioned 2007
© Commonwealth of Australia