John Edwards Me, myself, I 1995

John Edwards was born in Sydney in 1956 and studied at Alexander Mackie CAE over the years 1977-79. He then studied at the City Art Institute in Sydney. Edwards has exhibited throughout NSW, the USA and Europe. He was a finalist in the Archibald in 1992 and 1994, and the Sulman Prize in 1994.

Edwards: 'This self-portrait is an honest appraisal of myself. It had to be you looking at me and me looking at you because my painting over the last three years has been deeply introspective.’

Three years ago a close friend of Edwards’ died and the experience has led him to consider his own mortality as well as exploring the links between art and life. 'The painting depicts fragility’, says Edwards. 'My hands are tied as are everyone’s to some extent. But there is wry humour too since I am a painter who depends on my hands and my mind.’

Edwards merges abstraction and figuration in his work and this he describes as a 'tough call’. He deals with this by showing himself attached to another figure. Equally, the connection between his head and its hapless body depicts the artist’s vulnerability – 'I wanted to be brave enough to say this person is me.’