Bald Archies target Lambie and Hockey
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie and a pop culture phenomenon which "broke the internet" have taken centre stage at this year's Bald Archy Prize in Canberra.
The annual Bald Archy competition parodies Australia's top prize for portraiture, the Archibald Prize, promoting comedy, cartoons and caricatures.
Multiple entries this year drew inspiration from American celebrity Kim Kardashian's famous photo which sent social media into overdrive, supposedly "breaking the internet".
Last year's winning entry was also inspired by pop culture with the winning entry depicting cricketer Mitchell Johnson atop a large cricket "wrecking ball" referencing the Miley Cyrus song.
Bald Archy Prize founder Peter Batey said the competition poked fun at the powerful, the political and the prominent.
He said Senator Lambie's big personality made her a perfect fit for the "Bald Archies".
"She's so full-on, which is wonderful for this sort of in-your-face art," Mr Batey said.
But he said the main subject could have easily been a different politician.
Mr Batey said he was pleased Prime Minister Tony Abbott's decision to knight Prince Phillip came after the closing date for entries.
"Every artist here would have chosen that as their subject," he said.
Federal politics was the central focus for the majority of the competition entries, with Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey among the most popular subjects.
Mr Batey said political satire was alive and well in Australia.
"Aren't we lucky in Australia that we can hang up whatever we want in this country without huge damage to society?" he said.
"It's terrific and it's always been like that in this country."
Canberra artist Arthur Piwko, also known as PicPoc, chose to focus on both Mr Hockey and Mr Abbott in his two pieces, which gained a finals nomination.
"There's a lot of character in their expressive faces," he said.
"But they're also two very important men in the Government.
"Especially Joe Hockey, he has full-on expressions and uses his hands a lot."
In his work The Magic Trick Mr Piwko portrayed Mr Hockey as a circus clown holding a coin.
"I look for everything that shows the personality, lighting, aged faces," he said.
"But it's challenging because you can't be too free ... because everyone knows these faces."
The winner of the 2015 Bald Archy Prize will be announced on July 24.
Sunrise news break – February 7
