VINCENT NAMATJIRA: Doug Moran Portrait Prize – Finalist

Congratulations to Tony Albert and Vincent Namatjira on their collaboration ‘Blackfella Bananas’ being selected as a finalist for the prestigious 2022 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize!⁠⁠ The collaborative painting came about as part of an amazing week of art-making when Vincent spent time in Tony’s Brisbane studio in May this year.⁠ ⁠ “In 2018 Tony and I did a TV interview at the ABC studios in Sydney. There was a Bananas in Pyjamas cut-out that you could put your head through, so we got a photo as the blackfella bananas! Reflecting today, what started as a bit of fun was actually important. Growing up I never saw many Aboriginal people on kids TV shows. My daughters are growing up now and it’s been good for them to be able to see more Aboriginal faces on TV. Who knows, maybe one day kids will be watching the ‘Blackfella Bananas’ starring me and Tony!”⁠ - Vincent Namatjira⁠ ⁠ “On a recent visit to my place in Brisbane, Vincent and I were looking at photos of us together. Given our reciprocal cheeky nature, we were both keen to collaborate on a painting based on a memory of us as ‘Blackfella Bananas’. A story from a moment captured in ABC Studios in Sydney. The more I look at this memory and absurdity of this time the more I draw out of it.”⁠ - Tony Albert⁠