With August being Women’s Month in South Africa it is a great opportunity to look at one of South Africa’s famous female artist – Diane Victor.
Diane Victor is a graphic visual artist that is always looking to push the boundaries with her experimental art. The beauty of her mark making holds your attention even if the depicted image pushes you away – you as viewer are caught looking again and again, making you her captured prey as defenceless as the victims she depicts.
Diane Victor was born in Witbank, South Africa. She received her BA Fine Arts degree at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, majoring in Printmaking, in 1986. Graduating with distinction, she continued to win various awards, including the Volkskas Atelier Award in 1988 that included a ten-month stay in Paris.
Since 1990 to 2014, she has been a part-time lecturer at various South African institutions including the University of Pretoria, Wits Technicon, Pretoria Technicon and Open Window Academy to name a few, teaching printmaking and drawing.
Using etching, charcoal, lino, lithography and embossing to create satirical commentary on contemporary life, she prefers to use figures as signifiers, especially her own self-portrait. With her complex narratives, she explores not only South African issues but also the global crisis of war, corruption and violence in all aspects of life, both public and private.
Above images are part of a series called “Disasters of Peace” done in 2001 by Diane Victor with strong social comments.
Image: Diane Victor, “Straightdress”, 2002, Etching and Embossing (Flicr share). The image of a straight dress refers back to Victorian times and women’s place in society – not only their expected role but also their confinement and inability to defend themselves against domestic abuse. Even though women no longer wear straight dresses domestic abuse have not ceased to exist.
Image: Diane Victor, “The Undertaker”, 2014/15, one colour lithography. Here she explores her personal battle with genetic kidney disorder. The crocodile signifies the decease pulling her down – drowning her like a crocodile its prey.
Image: Diane Victor, “A Hyena Skin of Doctors”, 2014/15, Two color lithography.
Image: Diane Victor, “Employing the Book Advantage” 2014/15, Two-colour lithography. Book Advantage refers to lawyers and recent trails.
Image: Diane Victor, “The Usher (Self-portrait with goat)”, 2014/15, Single colour lithography. In typical Victor style, she questions our relationship with animals, death and sacrifice.
These images are but a small light on Diane Victor’s vast spectrum of work, but I trust that you will go explore her repertoire for yourself. She is really an inspired artist that does not treat softly but shocks her viewers into self-questioning and action. Her action to defend the powerless is to draw and make society take note of the corruption and violence – so easily forgotten when you are not the victim. Let’s take up her call to action – let us start drawing!
