Notes

Diane Victor often uses her body as a reference in her artworks, many of which are large scale drawings and prints, similar to the present lot. Noyce observes that "by using her body the artist short-circuits the need for a model, but also closing the gap between the object and the subject, and obviating the ambiguity of the artist's gaze, which is so common in the canon of Western art."¹

This artwork shows a complex blend printing techniques highlighting the skill that Victor has developed in the making of powerful images. Noyce aptly describes the work as follows: "a naked standing woman stares out from a background embossed with the regularity of wallpaper. Images of primeval sharks nibble at the woman's body, which is studded with nails, as in African fetish figures. The woman holds a picture of a shell, exposing it's open cleft."²

1. Richard Noyce (2010) Critical Mass: Printmaking Beyond the Edge, London: A&C Black. Page 69.

2. Ibid.

Literature

Elizabeth Rankin and Karen von Veh (2008) Diane Victor, Taxi Art Book Series, Johannesburg: David Krut Publishing. Another example from the edition is illustrated on page 36.

Richard Noyce (2010) Critical Mass: Printmaking Beyond the Edge, London: A&C Black. Another example from the edition is illustrated on page 69.