Martin Herbert (1957-2014) was an aspiring artist and my husband. This is a collection of some of his work (more may be added later when I can find it!). Martin chose to migrate from a career in industry and launch on a new path in mid-life. He worked in both traditional and digital media. His IT industry background fuelled techniques including 3D modelling, lighting simulation and computer music. At the same time his exploration of ‘old master’ oil painting and drawing techniques helped complete a multi-faceted practice. His last works explored the possibilities afforded by combining digital modelling with the drawing techniques of the Renaissance, oil paintings and electronic media including video and programming.
Martin was also a talented fiddle player and active on the folk music scene for almost 40 years.
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| Playing at a group show we both curated in Hanko, Finland 2010 |
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| Martin and Vivi-Mari in his studio in Hanko, Finland 2010 |
SYNTHESIS
A project that started out as illustrations for The Crock of Gold by James Stephens (see artist's talk video below). A selection of his works:
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The Heart is the Fountain of Wisdom Ink, pencil, gouache and transfer print on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 70 x 50 cm : 2012 |
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Functional Heart Pumping Model (Self Portrait 2011) Ink, pencil, gouache and transfer print on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 2011 : 67 x 48 cm |
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Third-Eye Test Ink, pencil and gouache on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 70 x 50 cm : 2011 |
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Design for a Flying Machine to Escape the Bank Manager Ink, pencil, gouache and transfer print on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 84 x 53 cm : 2012 |
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Order & Chaos Ink, pencil and gouache on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 43 x 56 cm : 2011 |
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Grounded Ink, pencil and gouache on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 65 x 52 cm : 2012 |
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A Hat that Stirred Her to the Top of Rapture Ink, pencil, gouache and powder pigment on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 70 x 50 cm : 2012\ 
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Project “Synthesis”:
The project resulted from experimentation into ways in which modern digital media could create source material for ‘real’ drawings in traditional media - taking advantage of new technology, but putting back into the process the manual skills which are often seen as missing from much contemporary art. The project had two threads:
Using the ‘perpetual archiving’ properties of the world-wide-web. A multitude of out-of-copyright texts, including many classics of literature, are now freely available to download from internet archive sites like the ‘Gutenberg Project’. This is a rich source of inspiration for diverse new projects. The text selected was the Irish fantasy classic “The Crock of Gold” by James Stephens, and some of the works included in the exhibition are inspired by the book. This was to become an e-book, thus completing the cycle.
Secondly, a lifelong fascination with the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci inspired the use of 3D computer modelling software to create new ‘machines’. Influenced by the work of 1930s scientific illustrator Ernst Haeckel, similar techniques were used in the invention of biological forms resembling microscopic sea-creatures. These new contructs, both mechanical and organic, were incorporated into drawings representing the investigations of Renaissance man into a speculative world which never was.
All the drawings, although rooted in modern digital technology, were made using the most traditional of media - sepia ink and red chalk pencil on 100% recycled cotton rag handmade paper tinted with hand-ground egg-tempera. (Based on Martin Herbert's own words).
A LIFE UNREMARKED - Self-portrait project (see previous blog post from 2015)
This is an unfinished project now consisting only of a portrait in oils and egg-tempera and a video animation. I discovered the unfinished video work after his death and decided to do a posthumous collaboration by adding an appropriate ending and a soundtrack.
Martin's project was exploring the premise that the skills of the generalist or polymath are not valued in our society - that individuals are only well-regarded if they become 'experts' in one narrow field. Because of Martin's premature death and the nature of the music I created without any conscious thoughts of what I wanted to achieve, the impact no doubt diverges from Martin's initial intentions. The final product is rather uncanny and hints at the idea that we sometimes may have premonitions about our own death. The work takes on a whole new meaning as describing the transient nature of a prematurely ended life and its impact on those left behind.
A Life Unremarked, a posthumous collaboration between Martin Herbert (visuals)
and Vivi-Mari Carpelan (sound)
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That Tracey Emin Says My Art Looks Like a Plane Crash
Ink, pencil, gouache and transfer print on tempera-washed handmade Khadi paper : 70 x 103 cm : 2013
This piece was accepted to the Aberystwyth College of Art’s collection - the story behind it convinced them to. In 2013 Martin was shortlisted for he British Airways competition with Tracey Emin on the panel at the Royal Academy, and her exact words were: ‘I wouldn’t step on a plane that already looked like a plane crash’!
Martin was an MA student at the college at the time of his death.
ORGANIC DIGITAL CONSTRUCTS (2006)
3D organic digital creation
Martin Herbert created many images which appear to represent exotic flora or miscroscopic sea creatures, since fractal geometry often echoes nature in these areas, and used colour rendering techniques reminiscent of hand tinted lithographic botanical illustrations from the 19th Century. The Encyclopedia Xenobotanica and the Encyclopedia Xenopelagica document life-forms which do not exist here and now, but may exist somewhere and somewhen.
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| The series of dragons Martin drew for The Dragon Trail in Llanidloes is now housed in the Arwstli Medical Practice in town. CURRICULUM VITAE Solo exhibitions 2014: "Synthesis", Mid-Wales Arts Centre, Caersws. Group exhibitions 2014: Gas Gallery, Aberystwyth Education Currently studying part-time for MA in Fine Art at Aberystwyth University Training Aug 2014: Online course - "Creative Coding" (Monash University) Competitions/Awards May 2012: Project grant (professional development) - Arts Council of Wales. Activities Jan 2014: Participated in Arts Council of Wales Stakeholder focus group. Voluntary/Community Arts 2005: Collaborated with Powys artist Suzy Pegrum in organising and promoting “Powys OpenArt”, a juried open art exhibition. |
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| ‘Martha and the Dragon’ Unfinished work in oil, donated to the palliative care unit in Llanidloes Memorial Hospital  |
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| Vivi-Mari & Martin in Finland 2010 |
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| Martin in Finland 2010 |
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| ‘Spirit of the Wood’ is flute music by Martin and it can be uploaded on Bandcamp for free |
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