Marlene Dumas (1953)
In her drawings and paintings, Marlene Dumas captures both the fragility and the strength of humanity. In doing this, she devotes particular attention to the female form, the woman as desirable being, lover, mother. Rather than using live models for her portraits, Dumas prefers to delve newspapers and books for images: it is here where she finds the societal role models she wishes to explore. Her subjects have also included herself.
Although her works are regarded as among the best internationally, the artist takes it upon herself to question, in images and words, the significance of her own work and the ever more frenetic world of art in which it functions. Dumas bestows charged titles on her works, and publishes her thoughts and reflections in book form.
