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Ingrid Moses portrait unveiled

October 06, 2006

Portrait of former UNE Vice-Chancellor Professor Ingrid Moses.An official portrait of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of New England, Professor Ingrid Moses, was unveiled at Booloominbah yesterday.

The unveiling was attended by more than 70 people, including Chancellor John Cassidy, Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Pettigrew, Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay, and Australian Chief Scientist Jim Peacock.

The painting, by former Archibald Prize runner-up Matthew Lynn, depicts Professor Moses in full academic regalia on a dark green background. Mr Lynn, who also painted the official portrait of former Chancellor Dr Pat O'Shane, said that while he had pictured Dr O'Shane as being like “glowing coal”, he saw Professor Moses as a “brilliant diamond”.

“Although I work realistically, I am very focused on the essence of the person,” Mr Lynn said. “The exterior is just there so you can see who it is. It's what's inside that's important.”

Mr Lynn is well-known for his portrait paintings, having had many of his works accepted into the Archibald Prize. Two of his portraits have been runners-up in the final prize: a portrait of SBS presenter Jeanne Ryckmans and his 1998 painting of Chinese contemporary artist Guan Wei.

Professor Moses, who flew from Canberra with her husband John to be at the unveiling, said she and Dr O'Shane had decided on Mr Lynn as their portrait artist after viewing his work at the National Gallery in Canberra.

“We said we wanted to be portrayed as strong, intelligent women,” she said.

“Pat said the picture shouldn't be any smaller than the mens'.”

Professor Moses said Mr Lynn had convinced her to sit for the portrait in her Vice-Chancellor's robes because that was the role she was being celebrated in.

“He said, 'If you are just in your jacket you could be any other corporate woman. You are here because you are the Vice-Chancellor'.”

Booloominbah houses a number of valuable paintings, including a 1950 oil on canvas of UNE’s first Chancellor, Sir Earle Page, painted by Sir Joshua Smith, an oil on canvas of Dr Robert Madgwick, UNE’s first Vice-Chancellor, by Judy Cassab, and an acrylic on board of Sir Frank Kitto, a former Chancellor, by Kevin O’Connor.

Professor Moses said it was a great honour to have her portrait hung among these and other former leaders of the university.

“I think these [Professor Moses' and Dr O'Shane's portraits] are very different paintings from the other paintings here, and I think it actually enhances the collection of the university.”

For more information contact Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Posted by Leon Braun at October 6, 2006 11:53 AM