Kirsty Neilson There's no humour in darkness

Australian actor and comedian Garry McDonald is famous for his portrayal of the hilarious Norman Gunston and other television characters such as Arthur Beare in Mother and son.

‘I first saw Garry on Australian story last year and knew immediately that I wanted to paint him,’ says Kirsty Neilson. ‘Garry suffers from major anxiety and depression, which led to a nervous breakdown. I personally suffered from major anxiety growing up, particularly performance anxiety as I was a pianist, among other things. We share traits of perfectionism and self-criticism, which comes with the territory of being creative.

‘Garry graciously invited me down to his home in Berry where we walked around his beautiful property and talked. This portrait represents the state of never thinking you’re good enough. Anxiety and depression take you to such a dark place, which is illustrated by the use of black spray paint for the background. Mental illness is such a personal experience, which is why I chose to portray Garry side-on with no eye contact with the viewer. The hand to the head emphasises the mind as the battlefield, the area we need to conquer.’

Born in Sydney in 1987, Neilson has a Bachelor of Fine Art in painting from the National Art School. Known for her portraiture and figurative work, she has been a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award and the Mosman Art Prize. This is her first time in the Archibald Prize.