Skip to main content
Menu
What's on The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket), 2023

Bahman Kermany

Darling Portrait Prize 2024 Finalist

oil on canvas (support: 65.0cm x 57.0cm. frame: 67.7cm x 57.7cm depth 3.8cm)
Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket), 2023

Bahman Kermany
born Iran 1984, Australia from 2000

Habitat of monstera II (Self-portrait with yellow paisley jacket) 2023
oil on canvas

‘To be completely honest, I don’t own a paisley jacket nor a monstera plant or even have a moustache. I fantasise what it would be like to have those things. This self portrait is part of an ongoing series where imaginative figures and landscape come together. The stylised moustache is a recurring motif symbolising my cultural heritage and imparting a hint of humour. These works ponder the purpose of the self portrait in a world where the race for fame across all types of media is on the rise.’

Iranian-born Bahman Kermany moved to Australia at the age of 16, and lives and works on Cammeraygal Land in Sydney. His practice engages with identity, heritage, social issues and the cultural and political conflicts of both Australia and Iran.


© The artist

People's Choice Award

Darling Portrait Prize 2024

Voting closes Sunday 29 September 2024.

Submit vote

Darling Portrait Prize 2024
(More information, View all 24 paintings)

Self portrait on washcloth
Nyadol Nyuon OAM
there is no collective noun for rainbows, they are just rainbows
Mel

Related information

William Nuttall with horses in field, 2023 Noel McKenna
William Nuttall with horses in field, 2023 Noel McKenna
William Nuttall with horses in field, 2023 Noel McKenna
William Nuttall with horses in field, 2023 Noel McKenna

Darling Portrait Prize 2024

Current exhibition

from Saturday 22 June

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

The Gallery

Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night

Support your Portrait Gallery

We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency