Martine Emdur Laughing on the inside

Martine Emdur and Peter Berner struck up an instant rapport when they shared a studio as budding artists several years ago. However, it was at an impromptu get-together, just days before the close of entries for the Archibald Prize, that Emdur decided to paint his portrait. “Once again, he had me in hysterics,” she says.

A stand-up comic and TV host, Berner is “a sensitive, moody character whose comedy often delves into the darker side of life, hence the dark portrait,” says Emdur. “For Peter, comedy is a serious business. Knowing him well gave me an insight when trying to capture an expression that sums him up. For me, it’s the questioning look he has.

“We spent an afternoon toying with ideas for the portrait. This pose and expression seemed to me the obvious choice. The initial stages of the portrait emerged immediately. I then photographed the pose and the painting was completed by the next morning.”

Emdur was born in Sydney in 1966. Largely self-taught, she has worked full-time as an artist since 1997.