Listen by Narelle Zeller

“This portrait is of my 13-year-old son, Tobias. I wanted to capture him as he is right now in this momentous time in his life, turning from a child into an adolescent. In this painting I explored the juxtaposition of these two ages by depicting a moment of quiet beauty and innocence, using a soft reflective classical pose against a contemporary palette, and an appearance that resonates with his current life and experience, swirling with technology, noise and constant connection. I want to say to him sometimes: ‘Stop and listen, can you hear the silence?’” – Narelle Zeller