Gratitude and a Dream
Martina Clarke
- Sitter: Caleb Godeby
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 120 x 120 cm
- Representation: The artist represents themselves
- Category: Sylvia Jones Prize for Women Artists
2021 Emerging Artists Award
Proudly supported by
Oxlades
About the artwork and sitter
Anyone who meets Caleb will quickly discover his passion for gardening. Living in Brisbane during the current political and environmental climate, he feels responsible for the future. Calebs response to Brisbane’s growing infrastructure and changing landscape is always with positivity and a big dream to change the world through permaculture, sustainability and strong community.
The artist shares these values, and a deep love for the local hinterland. “I have been inspired to portray his dream by capturing Caleb basking in the sunlight. His garden extends beyond the back fence to show imaginary rolling hills and vast skies. His garden is a sanctuary where we’ve shared quiet moments admiring the bees in the spiderwort plants and having invigorating conversations on the possibilities yet to come.”
About the artist
Martina Clarke is an Australian/ Danish oil painter and installation artist. Her practice focuses on climate change and the Australian landscape. Clarke completed her BFA at RMIT University in 2020 and participated in several exhibitions around Australia including the World Science Festival at Queensland Museum. Clarke has also completed artist residencies in Denmark (Kirstens Kjaer Museum) and the Gold Coast (Level Up Residency, Coolangatta).
Judge's Notes
This Rousseau like image frames the figure in a way that gives the background prominence in the narrative.
A painter and installation artist, Martina Clarke’s work focuses on climate change, using the richness and detail of the Australian landscape.
In this portrait, she shows the subject revelling in the delight of his permaculture garden, with his feet in the dirt and the sunlight on his face. The imagined background alludes to his dreams for the future.
Anna Reynolds
Board Chair, Brisbane Portrait Prize
2021 Judge
“I have been inspired to portray his dream by capturing Caleb basking in the sunlight. His garden extends beyond the back fence to show imaginary rolling hills and vast skies.”
Behind the scenes
