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"Self Portrait after our new arrivals, A bad sleep last night" by Myuran Sukumaran, Nusakambangan penal island, April 25, 2015. |
Convicted drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran has been posthumously named GQ Artist of the Year, seven months after his execution in Indonesia.
Sukumaran was sentenced to death for his involvement in the Bali Nine drug trafficking ring -- of which he and Andrew Chan were deemed the ring-leaders. Both were executed by firing squad in April.
Prior to his death, Sukumaran developed a love and undisputed talent for art, creating a large body of work during his imprisonment, including many self-portraits.
The annual GQ magazine Men of the Year Awards honoured Sukumaran by announcing him Artist of the Year at a ceremony held at Merivale’s ivy Ballroom in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Archibald Prize winner Ben Quilty, who considered Sukumaran his friend and protégé, was one of many who took to Twitter to voice his thoughts on the posthumous honour.
Many Australians protested against the executions of Sukumaran and Chan, asking for mercy for the pair who had demonstrated their rehabilitation through numerous ways, including teaching other prisoners English, computer, graphic design and philosophy.
Prior to the death of his friend, Quilty told RN Breakfast, "Myuran has done a horrible thing -- but that’s a long time ago".
"He’s a very quiet, very big, very well respected man in the prison. He helps run a very tight ship with his art room.
"He’s my friend. He’s a profoundly powerful person. No matter what happens, this shows the power of art, which I didn’t get until I spent time with this man on death row in Kerobokan prison."
Executed Bali Nine Ringleader Myuran Sukumaran Named GQ Artist Of The Year
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Artist Ben Quilty (r) and Myuran Sukumaran (l) in Kerobokan Prison's painting workshop, Bali, Indonesia. |
Myuran Sukumaran, one of the executed Bali Nine ringleaders, was posthumously honored by GQ Australia in its 2015 Men of the Year awards as Artist of the Year.
It was announced at the awards ceremony in Sydney on Tuesday night and Sukumaran’s family took the stage to accept his award, in what could have only been a super bittersweet moment.
The Australian was executed this year in Indonesia in April along with fellow Bali Nine member Andrew Chan for their role in a 2005 drug trafficking plot, despite loads of controversy and plenty of pushback from the public and the Australian government pleading for mercy.
Leading up to his execution, Sukumaran became known for his artwork, particularly his evocative self-portraits during his time in Bali’s Kerobokan Prison.
Source:
Coconut Bali, November 11, 2015