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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.

Gordon Darling

by Jiawei Shen

Gordon Darling interview
Video: 2 minutes

Gordon Darling talks about how Jiawei Shen came to paint his portrait.

This video was produced with funds donated by Tim Fairfax AC.

Video credits: music by Kai Engel

Video transcript

Jiawei Shen was born in Manchuria and he ended up when he came to Australia, in Sydney sitting on Circular Quay doing sketches of passers-by and selling them. Fast foward about 15 years, he has painted me, he has painted the Princess of Denmark. Marilyn and I went out to his home in Bundoora, and he gave me a chair and said “I’ve got to get ready, you sit in the chair”. So I sat in the chair and crossed my legs, and when he came back he siad “hold that, I’ll paint you like that”. He was always someone who you felt you were never at a distance from. I’ve always loved the painting because it’s got that personal feel about it. It was a great experience, and whenever I go back to the Portrait Gallery it gives me a lot of pleasure to see his work on the wall in the Gordon Darling Hall.

2 portraits

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark

1 L. Gordon Darling AC CMG, 2006. © Jiawei Shen. 2 Portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 2005. © Commonwealth of Australia. Both Jiawei Shen.

Related people

L Gordon Darling AC CMG

Portrait stories

Marilyn Darling
by Anne Zahalka

Gordon Darling
by Jiawei Shen

Aldo Giurgola
by Mandy Martin

Portrait of Cate Blanchett
by David Rosetzky

Related information

Princess Mary

Artist Jiawei Shen describes the symbolism in his portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

L. Gordon Darling AC CMG

Portrait of a patron

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2007

A new painting by Jiawei Shen captures the vision and resolve of the Gallery's founder, L. Gordon Darling AC CMG.

Australian Princess

Magazine article by Katherine Russell, 2005

The full-length portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark by artist Jiawei Shen, has become a destination piece for visitors.

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Fax +61 2 6102 7001
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency