Scott Morrison has been presented with a hand-carved portrait of himself that has received mixed reviews from online critics.
The timber portrait, completed by a local woodturner, Bob Brinkman, was presented to the visiting prime minister at Agfest in Tasmania on Thursday by the Liberal senator Eric Abetz.
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, was also in Tasmania but was not presented with a portrait.
Eric Abetz has prevented the PM with a personalised wood carving pic.twitter.com/uww6ZExUTi
— Annika Smethurst (@annikasmethurst) May 2, 2019
— Annika Smethurst (@annikasmethurst) May 2, 2019
The portrait drew unflattering – and perhaps unfair – comparisons to the bronze statues of footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona, with which it shares a certain toothiness; as well as the well-meaning attempted restoration of Ecce Homo in a Spanish church.
Its eyes follow you... https://t.co/lAAT9zOz3G
— James Jeffrey (@James_Jeffrey) May 2, 2019
Some pointed out a similarity to another idol: the former prime minister John Howard. Morrison, who has been aspiring to copy Howard’s everyman appeal and enduring popularity, would almost certainly embrace the comparison.
Felt like this carving really looked like a mashup of Howard and Morrison, so I let the internet do it's thing. pic.twitter.com/zzCTkMIttp
— Eric George (@ericpaulgeorge) May 2, 2019
It also shared a certain likeness to the independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie – an association that would please neither party.
Senator Eric Abetz has presented a wood carving of the PM to Scott Morrison himself. Reminds me more of Andrew Wilkie frankly (via @annikasmethurst) #politas #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/9uSWIXJuXZ
— Rob Inglis (@rg_inglis) May 2, 2019
It is not the first portrait Brinkman has created. The woodturner is a local identity for his portraits of community leaders, ranging from past presidents of the Ulverstone golf club to the former Tasmanian premier Eric Reece, who was memorialised for a commitment his government made to the aforementioned golf course. Morrison is a notable non-golfing entry to the canon.
Carving prime ministers out of timber is a well-worn tradition in Australia: Jeparit in western Victoria for many years held an annual chainsaw carving competition at the agricultural show for portraits of Sir Robert Menzies, who was born in the town.
A life-size wax replica of Morrison’s immediate predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, was shelved when the leadership spill rendered him superfluous to Madame Tussauds’ planned world leaders exhibit last year.
