'I paint the world as I see it,' the artist said.
The richest woman in Australia has demanded a portrait of her hanging in the National Gallery of Australia should be taken down.
Gina Rinehart, a mining magnate estimated to be worth more than £24.1 billion, appears to have a double-chin in award-winning aboriginal artist Vincent Namatjira’s painting.
Ms Rinehart is a friend of the National Gallery, meaning she donates between $4,999 to $9,999 AUD each year.
Mr Namatjira said in a statement: ‘I paint the world as I see it. People don’t have to like my paintings, but I hope they take the time to look and think, “Why has this Aboriginal bloke painted these powerful people? What is he trying to say?”‘
The painting was initially on display in Adelaide, before going on show in Canberra alongside paintings of Queen Elizabeth II.
The National Gallery of Australia said it welcomes public dialogue on their displays, but have so far refused to take it down.
They said in a statement: ‘Since 1973, when the National Gallery acquired Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles, there has been a dynamic discussion on the artistic merits of works in the national collection, and/or on display at the gallery.
‘We present works of art to the Australian public to inspire people to explore, experience and learn about art.’
The exhibit also has Angus Young from ACDC, King Charles III, Jimi Hendrix and other famous figures from Australia and around the globe.
‘Some people might not like it, other people might find it funny but I hope people look beneath the surface and see the serious side too,’ Namatjira added.
Ms Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, has been contacted for comment.
Artist Namatjira also created a portrait of King Charles III, showing him standing in full regalia in the middle of a desert – looking uncomfortable.
Namatjira was the first Aboriginal person to win the Archibald Prize in 2020 – an Australian portraiture art prize for painting.
This week, King Charles’ first official portrait since the coronation was recently unveiled in the UK – with one television host saying it looked as though the king was ‘looking at me from the gates of hell’.
The painting, by British artist Jonathan Yeo, reflects the monarch’s ‘metamorphosis’ from Prince of Wales to King but has divided the nation.
Online, the portrait has been compared to the villain in Ghostbuster and an image depicting Hans Solo frozen in Star Wars.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
