KŌIWI
Michael Simms
- Sitter: Victoria Hunt
- Medium: Oil on Canvas
- Dimensions: 63cm x 75cm
- Representation: Eloise Cato Gallery, Flinders Lane Gallery, Lethbridge Gallery
About the artwork
This portrait honours Victoria Hunt, an Australian-Maori performance artist whose work explores the power of Indigenous creativity within contemporary performance. A friend and mentor to the artist, Hunt inspired this painting through her dance work, KŌIWI.
“I was drawn to Victoria for many reasons – her commanding physical presence, her deep cultural knowledge and her uncompromising commitment to her craft. She has a way of working that is visceral and deeply intellectual, often pushing herself, and those around her, into transformative territory. After spending time with her, I always feel like my thinking has been expanded, challenged in the best possible way.”
The composition is a close-up of Hunt’s face, partially obscured by one of her sculptural bone creations, evoking a sense of ancestral presence and mystery. Stripped of colour, the image takes on a heightened abstraction, compelling the viewer to look more closely.
“Through a narrow opening, her eye meets the viewer – a reminder of the power of seeing and witnessing.”
About the artist
Michael Simms is an interdisciplinary artist exploring themes around queer identity, masculinity, the impacts of digital technology and the body. He won a scholarship to study at Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney. Simms has been a finalist in major awards including the Archibald Prize and Mosman Art Prize. He is represented by Eloise Cato Gallery in Sydney and Flinders Lane Gallery in Melbourne.
