The author of a series of portraits, Australian artist George Gittoes, has been working with Assange for over five years.
George Gittoes (right) with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. Photo: George Gittoes
Gittoes submitted his work to Australia’s Archibald Prize. He presented an ambitious 2-metre diptych of Assange painted in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, but didn’t win. He then entered the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize with another version of the portrait and made it to the semi-final.
George Gittoes’s works, including portraits of Julian Assange, on the roof of the Yellow House art center in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Photo: George Gittoes
The portrait series was mentioned by the New Yorker in a profile of Assange, who revealed classified documents he received from army soldier Chelsea Manning (he later underwent gender transition surgery to become Bradley Manning). The documents were published on WikiLeaks under the title Collateral Murder. Later, in 2016, he published emails and documents stolen from the US Democratic National Committee. The Us authorities accuse Russia of being involved in the hacks.
George Gittoes (right) with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. Photo: George Gittoes
Gittoes understands that Assange is a controversial and polarising figure in world politics. “The reason why I support Julian and see him as an inspiration is very simple. He proves that one individual can still stand up against the powers we all feel oppressed by,” artnet.com quotes him as saying.
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