Artist Statement

Michael Happell

President Melbourne Cricket Club

oil on linen 2022

137 x 92 cm

Michael and I met at the Melbourne Cricket Club to begin our collaboration creating his portrait for the MCC Longroom. Our conversation quickly led to Michael’s love of sport, in particular his passion for ‘Real Tennis’, the original racquet sport from which the modern game of tennis is derived - one of several games called ‘The Sport of Kings’, it definitely drew parallels for me with Cricket and the wonderful history both of these sports have. 

Walking around the MCC and seeing the incredible display of memorabilia caught my eye, all celebrating the rich memoir of tradition, we both agreed that an outdoor narrative would be the direction to explore and creating a departure from previous Presidents’ portraits. Michael suggested going to look at the Albert Cricket Ground (Warehouseman’s Ground). It was here I was instantly inspired, the magnificent club house with the contrasting cream and green colour, totally spoke volumes of the yesteryear feel and values. It was also a way of including the Real Tennis, Michael is so fond of, not in a pictorial way but in evoking an attitude of ‘past’. What I also liked about the club house was the recent modern additions to the side, which I included in the background of the work, exemplifying the connection to time past and future. 

The composition plays strongly in the diagonals seen in the wooden paneling and seating structure, subtlety reinforced with the sunlight across the face and clothing.