12/06/2026
I loved painting this portrait of my dear friend Upeka. Here's an artist statement:
Upeka is one of the earliest friends I made when I immigrated to Australia. I felt drawn to her because we experience the same sort of ‘push and pull’ between all the places we’re from. Born in Sri Lanka, Upeka’s family moved to England when she was 5. She learned English quickly and spent her youth in England, before moving to Australia 14 years ago, and eventually becoming a citizen. She understands that while a complete sense of belonging in any one of these countries remains elusive, she has embraced the best parts of each place, grafting them onto her heart.
I wanted to paint Upeka because she has an interesting face. Just look at her! Also, I admire her for her career where she manages to impress everyone with her poise, intellect, and professionalism, and for her personal life where her identity is being temporarily consumed as a mother of two young boys. Mostly, her ability to see the positive side of every challenge is something I learn from. Through this portrait, I aim to celebrate the resilience, complexity, and richness of a life lived between cultures, and, through different iconic stages of life.
As her fiancé Patrick said about this portrait “you made her look like a wise shaman”. I take that as a compliment. She’s younger than me, but a role model for sure.
