'Every Boardroom Needs an Artist' (EBNA) is an innovative collaboration between artists trained at the Julian Ashton Art School and YSC, a leading business psychology firm. As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations in 2015, YSC paired artists up with a diverse array of CEOs from Australian and New Zealand corporations and not-for-profits. The project harnessed the talent and insight of the artists to capture the leadership qualities of the CEOs in the form of 13 portraits, which were then displayed in an exhibition at the MCA.
I was paired up with Alberto Calderon, the recently minted CEO and managing director of mining explosives company Orica. I met him and took candid photos in his Melbourne office while Carmel Pelunsky, the managing director of YSC's Sydney branch, interviewed him about matters both political and personal. It was precisely Calderon's "otherness" that attracted me to him as a subject. I, an environmentally conscious vegan, and he, the CEO of a mining explosives company: what could possibly go wrong? Fortunately, the meeting was not an explosive affair, and I was impressed by Alberto's great intellect, engaging character, and commitment to simple values and authenticity in his personal life. My objective was to capture his leadership qualities and oratorical skills in this portrait, since he seemed like quite a private person.
As part of 'EBNA', YSC kindly donated a full time student scholarship to the Julian Ashton Art School, as well as funds for art supplies to Weave’s KOOL KIDS CLUB, an educational outreach and prevention program for children aged 7-13 years living in La Perouse and surrounding areas.
I will be taking part in more exciting activities in partnership with YSC this coming year, including live art events and exhibitions - so stay tuned via my website and the EBNA facebook page.
Below are the sketches I painted in preparation for my portrait of Calderon:
