David Wells

Sunshine Coast National Art Prize 2025 - Finalist

_{Image courtesy of the artist}

Artist Statement

This painting is a reflection on the housing crisis, set against the backdrop of an abandoned luxury home. Once a symbol of success and exclusivity, the house now stands empty—its swimming pool unused, its walls and windows marked by graffiti, signs of both neglect and resistance. 

Faceless statues stand as silent guardians, evoking the dehumanising forces—bureaucracy, greed, policy failure— that gatekeep access to housing for many. 

Perched on one statue, a lone galah is part clown and part witness, a small act of absurdity and resilience amidst decay. 

Bright orange stripes – suggestive of security laser beams – represent fractures in the system including broken promises, social disparity, and structural failure. 

This work invites viewers to consider who is excluded, what is protected, and why homes are treated as commodities instead of rights.