CHELSEA artist Fedor Dokumentov has submitted a portrait into this year’s Archibald Prize.
Fedor Dokumentov has painted Victorian youth homelessness charity founder Susan Barton. Dokumentov said his experience as a foster carer made him want to paint Barton to highlight the work of her Lighthouse Foundation charity.
“Susan Barton is an exceptional person. Her kindness and compassion are inspiring, and the Lighthouse Foundation has helped more than 1100 children and their carers – this is a huge achievement,” Dokumentov said. “The left-hand side of the portrait is dark and stormy, representing the challenges and dark times that homeless young people face, while the right-hand side represents the prospect of a brighter future. This is what the Lighthouse Foundation and Susan give all their energy for.”
Susan Barton said she was grateful to have been selected as the subject of Dokumentov’s portrait. “I am saddened that we as a civil society don’t have a policy and a will to end homelessness. So hopefully this painting shines a light on the blight of child homelessness, bringing it back into the spotlight,” she said.
“I am deeply grateful to Fedor for his generosity and good heart in doing something for Lighthouse to make the lives of these vulnerable kids noticed and let them know they matter and we care.”
The portrait, titled Light Prevails, is on display at Lighthouse Foundation’s Youth Resource Centre in Richmond until 22 March. It will then be shipped to Sydney.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 22 March 2023