Striking artwork brightens up Canberra Airport
A striking portrait of champion snowboarder Torah Bright is the latest artwork to be displayed at Canberra Airport. The painting by Thredbo artist Zoe Young, who grew up with Torah, was a finalist in the 2014 Archibald Prize.
Artist Zoe Young said she’s delighted the painting will be seen by people travelling through Canberra Airport.
“It is such an honour to have my work as part of the Canberra Airport collection, to be alongside other esteemed artists in such a wonderfully designed building. I have always had a love of aeroplanes. When we were kids we called them big tin birds and often my dad would just take us to airports to watch planes fly out, my dad actually tried to be a pilot before becoming a ski instructor.” Ms Young said.
Striking artwork brightens up Canberra Airport
The painting is acrylic and rosewater on ply and measures 140 x 122 cm. The subject, Torah Bright, is Australia’s most successful female winter Olympian. Ms Young grew up ski racing with the Bright family in the Snowy Mountains.
“I was a member of the Thredbo Race Squad, I wasn’t the best, but I was good enough to travel to Europe and compete. What really inspired me to paint Torah was her inner strength, you don’t go where she’s been and do what she does with just a smile and a good dose of enthusiasm, you need a deep impenetrable reserve of inner strength” said Ms Young.
Canberra Airport Managing Director Stephen Byron said a vision to elevate the airport and provide a stimulating point of difference for people is behind the airport’s growing collection of works by renowned artists.
“Canberra Airport has set out from the beginning to show that an airport can be so much more than simply a piece of national transport infrastructure. Our commitment to public art is an important part of that approach. In addition to this painting, there are currently fourteen sculptures across the terminal and Brindabella Business Park – with more to come. With world-class artwork; an award-winning design, inviting, interesting spaces and landscapes, Canberra Airport reflects Canberra’s emerging reputation as the capital of cool,” Mr Byron said.
Information about Zoe Young www.zoeyoung.com.au
Media enquires: contact Melissa Evans on 0409 629 741