‘After I die I can hang-out it’: A portrait of a comic with Archibald ambitions | Interiors

As an Australian who grew up across the arts scene, Paul Verhoeven – creator, broadcaster, comic – says being painted for the Archibald has at all times been a “secret, shameful ambition.” When he talked about it in passing to his spouse, the author Tegan Higginbotham, Verhoeven says he anticipated her to chuckle “however she actually is great like that, she’ll humour something”.

He didn’t assume way more of it.

However through the first blush of the pandemic, because the “zombie film stuff wore off and all of us discovered ourselves ensconced in rest room paper forts and consuming an excessive amount of,” Verhoeven says Higginbotham took up a stunning lockdown pastime and “romantically revealed” she was onboard along with his “foolish little dream”.

Portray principally from reminiscence, and observing him on the sofa enjoying “a whole lot of Animal Crossing”, Higginbotham – fully new to the follow of portraiture – ultimately turned out “Paul in Blue”, an impressionistic oil portray of her husband sporting a “Magnum PI-inspired” moustache.

He says continuity of picture calls for he should now preserve the facial hair ceaselessly.

At Verhoeven’s insistence, the work was shipped off for consideration in Australia’s most well-known portraiture prize. Regardless of his “intense conviction it was going to get via,” the work was handed over. However fond recollections soften that ego blow.

“When Tegan began portray we had this lovely lounge with nice pure gentle. She’d be grinning because the solar filtered in, somewhat jazz enjoying within the background. It was actually idyllic,” he says. “So each time I have a look at it I keep in mind that interval … this non-public second we shared.”

As soon as the portray was returned, they hung it instantly, testing associates on Zoom by positioning Verhoeven instantly in entrance of it to see in the event that they’d make the connection. He says they’re typically extra shocked by its provenance than its presence.

“I believe individuals assume that I’ve personally insisted … but it surely’s actually extra about celebrating Tegan’s great work.”

His love for the piece solely grows with time. “Will probably be in the home till I die after which possibly after I die I can hang-out it.

“I’m going to make it right into a horcrux and simply tether my spirit to the portray to ensure I dwell ceaselessly.”