Anh Do Peter, up close

Peter Garrett, lead singer with the band Midnight Oil, is an environmental and social activist and former politician. Anh Do first painted him in 2021 for the ABC-TV show Anh’s brush with fame.

‘My friend Peter has a remarkable presence about him, at once intense and almost overwhelming, but also gentle and somehow soothing. If he was a Viking chieftain leading you into battle, you would feel comforted, knowing your leader cared deeply about you, while at the same time confident that the guys you’re battling will be shaking in their boots,’ says Do.

‘I wanted to bring the viewer right up close to Peter to fully convey his awesome life force. Whenever I get really close to my wife, I see three versions of her: one with my left eye, one with my right eye, and one in the middle where my vision is focused. So I’ve painted Peter like this – as if the viewer is almost close enough to kiss him.’

Born in Vietnam, Do is a comedian and author as well as an artist. An Archibald finalist on three previous occasions, he won the 2017 People’s Choice with a portrait of actor Jack Charles.