An unusual self portrait on washcloth, somewhat in the vein of St Veronica’s Veil, has won the 2024 Darling Portrait Prize Art Handlers’ award of $2000 at the National Portrait Gallery.

The judges said of Nena Salobir’s Self portrait on washcloth: “We were struck by how Salobir has captured the ephemerality of a moment in time. We felt there was an inventiveness in how Salobir upends our expectation of portrait painting, imprinting herself literally and figuratively on to the work.”

Salobir, born in Malaysia, has lived in Australia since 1992. She created her portrait by pressing her face, painted with mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner, foundation, and lipstick, on to a commonplace cotton washcloth.

She has likened her work to a Victorian death mask, but also says, “the face is the ultimate canvas on which our innermost desires, identities, neuroses and vanities can be variously portrayed, and betrayed.”

Photographer Shelley Xue’s 阿谊 (ah Yi), 2024 has won the 2024 National Photographic Portrait Prize Art Handlers’ award, also worth $2000.

The judges commented: “We were taken by the compositional strength of Xue’s image. We relate directly to the experience of Xue and her mother, finding this beautiful and poignant photograph could articulate complex and bittersweet feelings.”

Both artworks are part of the finalists’ exhibitions for the Darling Portrait Prize Art and the National Photographic Portrait Prize. The winners will be announced at the NPG on June 21.

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