Or Had You Forgotten

An etching and aquatint print by the South African artist Diane Victor (b.1964) titled, Or Had You Forgotten. Or Had You Forgotten forms part of Victor’s most notable and ongoing ‘Disasters of Peace’ series, which was inspired by Francisco de Goya’s (1746-1828) sequence of etchings ‘Disasters of War’ (1810-1820). In this series of the ‘Disasters of Peace’, Victor addresses the aftermath of apartheid and the ongoing struggles for peace and justice in South Africa. Victor conveys powerful commentary on the effects of violence and conflict and the toll it takes on individuals and communities as portrayed through daily media coverage. Through her use of vivid imagery and bold mark making, Victor conveys the devastating impact of murder, racism, corruption, oppression, poverty and the ongoing struggle for recovery and healing. The ‘Disasters of Peace’ series explores brutality and grievances that are so frequent that they no longer raise outcry from the South African public. The ‘Disasters of Peace’ has been widely acclaimed for its unflinching honesty and its ability to confront difficult topics within the irony of daily life. Short Biography: Diane Victor is a prominent South African artist born in 1964. She is best known for her printmaking, drawing, smoke drawing, and installation works that address political and social issues. Victor received her training at the University of the Witwatersrand and has since established herself as a significant figure in the South African and international art scene. Her works have been widely exhibited both locally and internationally and are held in major public and private collections. She won the SASOL New Signatures Award in 1987 and became the youngest recipient of the Volkskas Atelier Award in 1988. In addition to her artistic practice, Victor has also been involved with the University of Pretoria as a lecturer and visiting artist.