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

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

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

Related people

L Gordon Darling AC CMG

Jiawei Shen

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

Portrait Play

Arty Animals

10:30am, – Fri 6 Oct

Come on an animal adventure these school holidays and meet some furry friends, cool critters and pet portraits. We’ll be looking, chatting and creating our way through the Gallery, and please, don’t feed the animals!

Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)

Little faces

10:30am, Wed 25 Oct – Fri 27 Oct

Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Princess Mary

Portrait story

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