Viv Martin

This series began in May 2011 when I re-discovered pre-historic art in the Dordogne area of France. I was particularly struck by the tiny ‘Venus’ figures found in the area. I have had a reproduction of the Venus of Willendorf for forty years and more recently have collected several reproductions of Venus figures found in France – but it was in May that I discovered the Venus of Sireuil, a beautifully curvy kneeling torso with no head, hands or feet and very tiny. Although these are about 25,000 years old, I feel a connection with the women who might have held these figures in their hands, much as they fit into mine.

This series of work is about confronting the past in many different ways, drawing on my own experience of living in a valley close to cliff shelters where people have lived for more than 80,000 years and visiting places where people left evidence of their lives. Read more...

Please click on each image to enlarge.

Monotypes

The monotypes are unique prints but share the same measurements (H40.5 xW30.5 cms). They are all printed with Akua inks on Arches 88 paper and many have chine colle, collaged or direct relief print added. Some of the added images are fragments from woodcuts, etching and drypoints and others are drawings on Japanese papers. Please click on each image to enlarge.