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.
A painter, printmaker and sculptor, Rick Amor makes personal and emotionally charged works, often incorporating a haunting ‘solitary watcher’. Some of his paintings of suburban and inner Melbourne now number among the defining images of the city. In creating this portrait of author David Malouf AO (b. 1934), Amor says he aimed first, to produce a good likeness; and secondly, ‘in a world full of enormous heads’, a quiet picture of a diffident man of intellect. The modest scale of the portrait imparts a sense of intimacy and calm, offering a gentle portrayal of the sitter. Malouf is best known for his novels: An imaginary life won the 1979 NSW Premier’s Literary Award; Fly away Peter was named the Age Book of the Year in 1982; The great world won the Miles Franklin Award in 1990; Remembering Babylon was shortlisted for the 1994 Booker Prize; and The conversations at Curlow Creek was nominated for the Miles Franklin Award in 1997.
Commissioned with the assistance of funds provided by the Circle of Friends 2012
© Rick Amor
National Portrait Gallery Circle of Friends (8 portraits supported)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Australian author David Malouf discusses the creation of his portrait by artist Rick Amor.
Artist Rick Amor and author Shane Maloney relate divergent experiences of the creation of Shane's portrait.
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.
This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.
The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.
The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency
