8 Questions with Vicky Martin

Throughout Vicky's work, she explores her fascination with identity and the emotions created by considered scenarios based on both fantasy and reality. Her work explores identity through staging and creating realities for characters who often display conflicting emotions with situations. Vicky seeks to encourage the viewer to ask questions of her work to which ultimately, the answers depend on the viewer's identity and perceptions.

www.vickymartinphoto.co.uk | @vickymartinphoto

Vicky Martin (UK) is an award-winning fine art photographer. Studying art and photography in the 1990s was not until 2008 that she was able to pursue photography professionally after being awarded a prestigious bursary. Since then, Vicky has had her work published and exhibited nationally and internationally, from Europe to the USA in solo and group shows. Her work continues to garner many awards and nominations, including Finalist at the Lensculture Art Photography Awards 2019, Winner of the Professional Beauty and Fashion Category at the Chromatic Awards 2018, Winner of the All About Photo Magazine Colors issue 2018, Winner of the Single Image in the Professional Fine Art Category at the 12th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards 2018 and Winner of the Professional Fine Art Series at 2016 Fine Art Photography Awards.

INTERVIEW

Before talking about your art, could you tell us about yourself? Who is Vicky Martin?  

I am an international award-winning fine art photographer from the UK. I fell completely in love with photography in the 90s as I found it to be such a natural fit creatively.  

I explore my fascination with identity throughout my photography and the evoked emotions by scenarios based on both fantasy and reality. I predominately use portraiture, creating characters with staged realities which seek to convey the tension and conflicts found within the self. Conscious themes within my work include conformity to the stereotypical, individual, and societal expectations of femininity, vulnerability, and self-doubt.

What kind of education or training helped you develop your skillset?  

My first introduction to photography was throught studying art and design at college in the 90s; from there, I focused my studying and training in all aspects of photography. I worked with manual cameras and 35mm film for many years, processing my own B&W prints and using local printers for color. I decided to change to digital around 2008 after finding it extremely difficult to continue with the processing side. I am self-taught in all aspects of digital, including photoshop, which has taken several years to adapt to, but I am always learning.

(great) Expectations

Please describe the intention behind your series (great) Expectations. How do you successfully express this intention?  

The series (great) Expectations allowed me to explore my feelings and the attitudes I have encountered in my life towards being female. I was inspired by the 1950s ideal of femininity and female identity, an era in which women were shaped into becoming a saccharine image of the perfect woman, perfect wife, and ideal mother. I wanted to create narratives that combine this era of superficial perfection with a claustrophobic sense of conformity.  

With the addition of the still life photographs in this series, the narrative concept was further symbolized. I feel both the portrait and still life together embody the themes and narrative that I wanted to portray within this series.  

How long did it take to develop this project? 

I developed this project during the summer of 2018 and completed it in 2019, which is relatively quick. The ideas and visuals came quite easily to me with this series normally; it takes many months in the development stage before I start to see the series coming together.

Do you have a role model that you’ve drawn inspiration from when creating your art?  

I am naturally drawn to strong females, whether this is from life, literature, or film, and I find these subconscious inspirations find me when I am creating my work.

What do you see as the strengths of your pieces, visually or conceptually?  

I feel my photography needs both to connect. Throughout my work, I endeavor to find an equal balance between the visual and the conceptual. Each series has a unique visual style, usually in terms of composition, light, and color, which help create an aesthetic vision that complements the narrative.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work?  

I start with an initial idea for a photograph. I then think through how to achieve the image in my mind. Then consideration is given to locations, outfits, colors, and how everything will work together. The crucial stage is then conceptualizing how to take single image ideas and develop them into a series. I enjoy all aspects of the creative process. - right through from the first concept, sourcing and making costumes, set/location through to final editing.

Do you ever experience rejection of any of the great expectations presented in your project? How do you overcome these obstacles?  

As a female artist, photography has allowed me to find my voice, and I use this as a platform to express my feelings. I believe most females have encountered some form of stereotyping or discrimination that I have explored within this series. Whilst it is certainly not autobiographical, this is still a very personal series as there are elements of my own experiences and observed experiences that contribute strongly to the situations that I have created for my protagonist. If emotional connections, discussions, or conversations are started from my work, I feel honored that my voice has been heard in the wider world.  

What was the most challenging part of your project?  

Each portrait in the series is succeeded by a correlating still life photograph to further symbolize the themes within the portraits. I found this a very challenging way to work as they both needed to equally work together, visually, narratively, and conceptually.

Any shows, galleries, or publications where our readers can find your work?  

FotoNostrum Mediterranean House of Photography, CAMP Gallery, and in Joseph and James Gallery.

What other interests do you have outside of art?  

I love to travel, l enjoy watching films, especially the classics, and enjoy reading.