Moran Portrait Prize Exhibition 2011, that great paintings provide

Something was missing for me, whilst viewing the Moran portrait prize exhibition and it wasn't the lack of talent or skill which was there in spades.  There was an emotional connection that just did not happen, the missing X factor, that great paintings provide. It was there at the 'Spirit in the land' exhibition where I felt rooted to the spot in front of paintings that made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle
 and stand on end. I just felt that none of the portraits had any real depth of phycological complexity. Somehow the images seemed lifeless,  bleached and static with faces that seemed  botoxed and inscrutable. The essence of the subjects personality or soul were absent. There was no subtly, what you saw is what you got. I found it very interesting. However I felt the images of the Photographic finalists in the the catalogue far more interesting and dynamic, There was humour, pathos/bathos, and a touching humanity.