Here Nor There: Unarmoured

A New Direction - Portrait in Progress

By Kobie Bennett

I’ve been working on a new side project this year, something a little different for me and it’s revealed more layers than I first anticipated.

This portrait, now almost finished, explores grief, vulnerability and and the shifting landscape of modern masculinity.

I notice it more and more in media, pop culture, and everyday life, masculinity moving beyond emotional suppression and stoicism. We’re seeing more men approach life with emotional honesty, self-awareness and authenticity, showing courage in vulnerability.

Observing my partner, Jim, as he lives through the sudden loss of both his siblings, one from unexpected adult death, the other by suicide, has deeply shaped this work. After a fast-paced career as a professional chef, he now embraces a quieter life as a private chef cooking for a local community church, tending the church’s vegetable and herb garden, finding purpose, presence and calm in everyday rituals.

This portrait reflects that journey, the past, hope for the future, dark emotions and joyful memories. It’s a step in my practice toward exploring identity, story telling, emotion and contemporary Australian life through figurative portraiture.

Kobie Bennett

Kobie Bennett Artist | Contemporary Australian Portrait Artist | Melbourne | Archibald Prize Entry | Portrait Exploring Modern Masculinity | Figurative Art Australia | Chef Jim McDougall