The King's Battle
Jamie van Leeuwen
- Sitter: Wally Lewis
- Medium: Mixed Media
- Dimensions: 35cm x 50cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
About the artwork
Rugby league legend Wally Lewis, known as the King, captained the Broncos, Queensland and Australian teams during his decades at the top. In this portrait, called The Kings Battle, Lewis holds a brain in his hands.
The symbols in this portrait tell a story. In this mixed media image, Lewis wears a crown and a jersey from the 1987 State of Origin victory, with a ray of light shining from above.
But this is not an image of triumph. Instead The King looks down at the brain with despondency and concern. Lewis revealed in 2023 he was likely suffering from CTE, a brain disorder probably caused by repeated head injuries. His intense contemplation of the brain is a visceral way of signalling the seriousness of the issue and the sitter’s advocacy of dementia and CTE awareness.
This artwork is a blend of traditional photography, the image of Wally in his jersey, with elements created by AI, the brain and the crown.
The artist says this “…creates a powerful representation of his ongoing struggle. It highlights Wally’s advocacy for better support and education on the long-term effects of sports-related brain injuries, aiming to raise awareness and drive change.
“The fusion of AI and photography in this piece aims to challenge traditional ideas of art by showcasing how technology can enhance creative expression and storytelling.”
About the artist
Jamie van Leeuwen is a Brisbane-based photographer, film maker and digital artist who merges traditional techniques with contemporary practices. Passionate about AI and its role in the creative industries, Jamie recently submitted an AI work into a Digi Direct monthly photographic competition, only disclosing it was created entirely by AI after it won. Jamie is founder and owner of Absolutely AI, a creative content agency which recently moved its headquarters from Sydney to Brisbane.
