In 1999, Polly Borland was jointly commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, London and the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra to photograph 54 Australians who were at the time based in the UK and making notable contributions to British cultural, political and intellectual life. Whether in (or out) of costume, the Melbourne-born artist rendered her sitters simply, in sharp, unyielding focus, with her signature irreverence and wit. As Borland notes, 'The best portraiture is when you get beneath the skin of someone.'
Pat Cash (b. 1965) emerged as a future top-ten tennis player when in 1982 he won the junior doubles at the French Open, junior singles and doubles titles at Wimbledon, and US Open junior singles. After winning the Wimbledon singles final in 1987, he famously scaled the stands to embrace the occupants of his player’s box, initiating what became something of a standard Wimbledon victory celebration. In retirement, Cash has worked as a coach, broadcaster and commentator. A co-founder of environmental organisation Planet Ark, he is an advocate for the work of charities including the Starlight Children’s Foundation and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, among others. He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2005.
Purchased 2022
© Polly Borland
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Polly Borland talks to Oliver Giles about the celebrity portraits that made her name and why she’s now making more abstract art.
Australian photographer, Polly Borland, describes the hectic experience of photographing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.