Paintings by Xanana Gusmao

As he had never painted before, Gusmao was reluctant to begin. However, with considerable time on his hands and encouragement from his Australian wife, Kirsty Sword Gusmao, who sent him various 'how to' books, he soon became increasingly skilful.

He decided to draw images of his early life growing up in Timor, but also to illustrate the pain of being separated from his wife. He did this by painting Kirsty from behind looking into a mirror, creating a new image within a further mirror as each year of separation passed. In all he painted six of these highly evocative images, a series of paintings now known as Gusmao's 'Tunnel of Time'.

Gusmao went on to become the first President and fourth Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, and his paintings have rightly become a part of the artistic patrimony of this young nation.