David Bongiorno

Local Contemporary Art Prize 2025 – Finalist

Image courtesy of the artist. Photo by Richard Muldoon.

David Bongiorno | Autumn Figs and Alan Stirling Pottery | 2024 | oil on board | 40 x 43cm (framed)

This artwork celebrates the beauty of a considered way of life. I wanted to do something personally meaningful with the genre of still life painting, while still drawing from classical tropes and techniques. It is from an ongoing suite of paintings of food I grow, the recipes I cook with them and objects of meaning in my life thus elevating everyday practices to an artform through careful and patient observation.

This still life has special significance for me. The bowl and plate were made by my father-in-law who had planted a fig tree when my wife was born, and so it seemed fitting to place our home-grown autumn figs in one of his bowls.

This artwork reflects my personal life and philosophies and in some way is a self-portrait of my life reflecting my practice, lifestyle and heritage.