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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Shaun: Warda Kadak, Becoming, 2020

Melissa Clements

Darling Portrait Prize 2022 Finalist

A Noongar leader, Shaun is Warda Kadak, man of importance. The process of painting Shaun was informed by the stories he has shared with me and the Boorloo (Perth) community. Through storytelling, Shaun advocates for the constant growth and regrowth of our relationship with self, others and the landscape through the five elements of art, story, music, dance and language. I wanted to capture the magnitude of Shaun's influence and resonance with the people he is close to and those who have heard him speak, while maintaining the calm, unifying presence he imbues within any space he enters.

Darling Portrait Prize 2022

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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