Today we will LOOK at the portrait of Dr G Yunupingu by Guy Maestri; THINK about mood and expression in portraiture; READ an article by Ashleigh Wadman; DO a couple of activities and finish with a quiz.
Reducing something to a few core elements can have a very powerful impact. This portrait of Dr G Yunupingu*, a Yolngu man from the Gumatj clan, is painted using just one colour, applied with a consistent brushmark. A monumental musical talent, when Dr G Yunupingu sang in Gumatj he was carrying out his duty of care for his people and the land. After seeing Dr G Yunupingu perform, Maestri arranged a hasty sitting with the musician. He worked on the painting for a month, listening to Dr G Yunupingu’s music as he built layer upon layer. Facial expression in combination with the limited palette contributes to a very evocative portrait – contemplative and strong – perhaps reflecting the impact of the musician’s voice on his audience. Today we will consider mood through technique in looking closely at this portrait.
*We no longer say his full name, because this is the Yolngu way.