Katherine Edney David, Teena and the black dog

Katherine Edney met her portrait subject, David Capra, at university in 2001. ‘We instantly connected over our absurd sense of humour,’ says Edney. ‘David is now a performance artist, known for his collaborations with Teena the dachshund and his prominent white attire. He chooses to wear white as it represents “the gallery wall”, which he wants to bring to the outside world.

‘David was happy for me to paint him on the condition he wear his “whites” – a uniform he feels more comfortable in than his everyday clothes. While David’s performances are confident, he also manages his anxieties and inner world (explored in the documentary Happy sad man). Consequently, this internal apprehension forms the painting. David’s stance is superhero-esque, but not quite convincing. The array of shadows he casts across the sheet symbolise those inner struggles.’

Edney was born in 1983 in Sydney. She has a Master of Fine Arts by Research (Painting) from the University of New South Wales. This is her second year as an Archibald Prize finalist.