National Photographic Portrait Prize announces Art handler's prize

The team responsible for looking after the National Portrait Gallery’s collection and hanging the exhibitions have selected their favourite work from the upcoming 2023 National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Art Handlers Jessica Kemister and Jacob Potter have selected David Cossini’s portrait of Urgandan man Godfrey Baguma, which the artist describes as “a photographic tribute to the world’s greatest underdog.” 

The portrait, titled Ugandan Ssebabi 2022 is set in the slums of Kyazanga, Uganda. 

 “Godfrey Baguma, who was born with a rare and painful physical disability, was abandoned by his mother as a bringer of ‘bad luck’, and shunned by society,” Cossini explains.

“Through a chance encounter, he reinvented himself as an entertainer in a travelling show. Now 57, he has beaten the odds. While most people with his condition die by 40, he has found love, success and bought a house – a testament to human resilience and positivity.”

Jessica and Jacob said they selected Cossini’s work because it was bright, bold and joyful.

“We found the image of Godfrey and the turkey so engaging and it immediately made us want to dive deeper into the story of the work. We enjoyed reading David Cossini’s words about Godfrey Baguma and learning about his life’s journey so far,” they said.  

“This is a confident work of art: there is assurance in the composition, in the figures of Godfrey and the turkey and in the joyful palette of colours. Cossini’s Cossini’s composition cleverly positions Godfrey against the billowing sheets of coloured fabric in background in tones of pinks and reds, echoing this visual likeness in the red wattle and legs of the turkey with Godfrey’s suit. A single turquoise string creates a connection between the figures both visually and in reality. The colours, scale and visual contrast in the work really appealed to us.” 

David wins $2,000, with the winner of the 2023 NPPP set to be announced on Friday 16 June.