Scott Marsh Salute of gentle frustration

Scott Marsh met his Archibald subject, Adam Briggs, at an event last year after Briggs moved to Sydney; the two have become great mates. ‘Briggs is something of a modern-day Renaissance man – rapper, record label owner, comedy writer, actor, author and staunch ambassador for Aboriginal rights,’ says Marsh. ‘He has an incredible work ethic and makes me feel lazy, which is a good thing!’

Marsh describes his friend as a strong leader and mentor to younger Indigenous artists, who leads by example. ‘I didn’t want to present him in a stance of defiance or anger, rather strong but contemplative and calm.

‘On his t-shirt is a screen print of Ice Cube’s 1991 album Death certificate. Ice Cube is globally known as a rap pioneer and Briggs’s music has always reminded me of Ice Cube in his style, delivery and strong sociopolitical stance.’

Marsh says that the title of the portrait references ‘the deep fatigue of generations of Aboriginal people demanding equality against a backdrop of political rhetoric and inaction’.

This is Marsh’s first time as an Archibald Prize finalist. Born in Sydney in 1984, he has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales.