Beyond "The Sleep of Convicts", Kristone Capistrano reconnects with his culture

"My accent is Australian and I love this place (Australia), this is my home forever for sure, but there's still a disconnection in the Australian history, my place here in terms of my lineage, so it's important to go back home (to the Philippines), I think."

Kristone Capistrano showing one of his huge portrait drawings Source: Supplied by K. Capistrano

That is a realisation that Australian artist Kristone Capistrano shares after recently going back home to the Philippines where he was born.

"This past two months has been an incredible (re)immersion into the rich cultural soil of my family. And whilst Australia will always be 'home' for me, I still can't escape the sense of dislocation that comes with being a migrant artist."

Capistrano's work 'The Sleep of Convicts (Portraits of Australian Ned Kelly & Filipino migrant Filippi Castillo)' has been selected as a finalist for the 2019 Dobell Drawing Prize!.The most prestigious drawing prize in Australia.