Yvonne East Knee-deep (portrait of Lisa McCune)

Lisa McCune has long been one of Australia’s most popular stage and screen actors. Yvonne East’s portrait of her started with a dream in which she saw the actor wading through water, dressed in white pants and top, with her distorted image reflected in the dark water.

‘This reverie of Lisa dealing with adversity depicts her resilience, empathy and fiercely maternal approach to life,’ says East.

‘Lisa was incredibly generous and agreed to go along with my crazy vision. I constructed a pond in a warehouse and we went through a series of outfits and ideas. This particular pose resonated with me because of its power. Her stance simply says, “I am here”.

‘The water represents obstacles that many have faced in recent times: loss of shelter due to dramatic climate change events, the loss of security experienced by artists due to lack of support during the pandemic, and the public reckoning with the treatment of women.

‘This painting is a statement,’ says East. ‘Much has changed in the last 50 years. The rubbish people used to deal with won’t be accepted anymore. We are more experienced, thoughtful and self-aware, and we hope to make things better for current and future generations.’