While she often photographs bodies, artist Narelle Autio rarely makes portraits. When approaching this commission, both artist and sitter – world champion cyclist Anna Meares OAM (b. 1983) – were relieved that neither wanted bicycles, Lycra or helmets to appear. As Meares put it 'the last thing I wanted was to have another picture to portray what I did as opposed to who I am'. Autio captured this image of Meares in low light at the end of a winter day they had spent working together at various locations around the Adelaide Hills – a creative process Autio described as exploring 'the landscape as a stage'. The portrait makes a symbolic association between Meares, who stands relatively small and almost spectral in the image, with the traits she is known for as an athlete – the strength and resilience of the tree which bends and prevails, and the enduring presence of the rock formation rising out of the landscape.
Meares was the first, and youngest, Australian female track cyclist to win an Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004. Four years later, just seven months after she broke her neck and dislocated her shoulder at a World Cup meet in Los Angeles, Meares took silver in the sprint at the Beijing Olympics. The first Australian athlete to win four medals in four consecutive Olympic Games, Meares collected 18 gold, 16 silver and 10 bronze medals at Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games levels.
Commissioned with funds provided by King & Wood Mallesons 2018
© Narelle Autio
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