Sages is Archibald runner-up … again
AFTER finishing second an astonishing six times, Archibald finalist Jenny Sages was hoping to at last snag Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize this year with her self-portrait, After Jack. But in the end, the veteran artist had to settle for runner-up again, making it the seventh time since she began entering the contest 20 years ago.
AFTER finishing second an astonishing six times, Archibald finalist Jenny Sages was hoping to at last snag Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize this year with her self-portrait, After Jack. But in the end, the veteran artist had to settle for runner-up again, making it the seventh time since she began entering the contest 20 years ago.
Artist Tim Storrier ultimately clinched the prize with his self-portrait titled The Histrionic Wayfarer (After Bosch), but Sages remains undeterred and plans to enter the contest again next year. “I want the $75,000 prize,” she laughed, adding more seriously: “I didn’t expect to get that far up. I’ve had more attention in that weekend of the announcement than in my whole career. It was lovely.”
After Jack, painted in encaustic oil and pigment, captures the artist’s grief after losing her beloved husband, Jack. It’s only the second time she has done a self-portrait. “I wouldn’t call it cathartic, but everything that I do, I want a painting, a body of work that talks to me,” said Sages. “On the whole, it was an interesting thing for me to do.”
Sages is now set to discuss her painting with ABC journalist Scott Bevan at the Art Gallery of NSW on May 9 at 6.30pm as part of a series of Archibald events. A documentary by filmmaker Catherine Hunter about the artist’s life and work will also be screened at the event.
Born in Shanghai, Sages immigrated to Australia in 1948 and later met her Turkish-born husband while travelling in Israel. Before his death in October 2010, they had been married for 55 years.
Surprisingly, when she looks at her portrait, she doesn’t dwell on the grief. “I see a painting, and I’m proud of it. The grief is there, but I’m interested in the painting.”
Pointing to a photo of the portrait, she adds: “Look at my neck. I’m really proud that I did a good neck.”
In the end, it’s all about her work – and learning how to move on with life after Jack. “I’m really very lucky. The work saves me … But every time something happens, I need to come home and tell Jack.”
The finalists in the Archibald are currently on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until June 3, and at the TarraWarra Museum of Art in Victoria’s Yarra Valley from June 10-July 8.
CHANTAL ABITBOL
Archibald runner-up – artist Jenny Sages’ self-portrait After Jack.
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