Responsible for masterpieces such as Strictly Ballroom, Australia and Moulin Rouge, we assume Baz Luhrmann is composed, intelligent, eccentric, suave and always capable. The painting that claimed this year’s Doug Moran National Portrait Prize by Melbourne artist Vincent Fantauzzo however, invites us to witness an entirely different side of Luhrmann: one that is vulnerable, exhausted, anxious and clearly feeling the pressure of Hollywood.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Luhrmann’s immediate reaction regarding the not-so-glamourous portrayal was an understandable ‘Why that image?’: ”I was under incredible creative stress at that time … and I don’t often show that in my work because it’s not very confident,” Luhrmann said. ”Of course that would be the image that Vincent chose.” Nevertheless this unconventional choice paid off, with one of the two Moran Prize judges, artist Michael Zavros, describing the painting as an “emotional tour de force”.
Last month Fantauzzo won the Archibald Prize packing-room award for his rather ‘fleshy’ painting of chef Matt Moran. You may also be familiar with Fantauzzo’s hauntingly beautiful 2008 Archibald Prize entry depicting the late Heath Ledger or his breathtaking painting of the young actor who starred in Luhrmann’s Australia, Brandon Walters. And we come full circle.
Words By Jess Glass
