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Venezuelan Souvenir [Opus G.2150]
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? Alan Davie

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Venezuelan Souvenir [Opus G.2150] 1991
  • Scottish Art
In 1989 Alan and his wife Bili visited Venezuela with their Venezuelan friends, Mr and Mrs Caplan. It was through the Caplans that Davie had first encountered Carib petroglyphs, ancient rock carvings, in a book by Jeannine Sujo Volsky. Davie?s interest in petroglyphs was rekindled when, in 1987, he acquired a copy of her later, larger book, `El Diseno en los Petroglifos Venezolanos?. In Venezuela the Davies sought out the Carib petroglyphs in the hills, spent time in Caracas, and also visited a number of villages. Davie was particularly impressed by the church graveyards which were full of votive offerings, artificial flowers and messages to the dead ? all of which feature in this work.

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Votive

A votive deposit or votive offering is one or more objects displayed or deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for broadly religious purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally made in order to gain favour with religious gods. Votive offerings have been described in ancient Roman and Greek sources. Similar acts continue to the present day, for example in traditional Catholic culture, and, arguably, in the modern-day practice of tossing coins into a wishing well or fountain.

Votive

Details

  • Acc. No. GMA 4138
  • Medium Gouache on paper
  • Size 75.60 x 56.40 cm
  • Credit Presented by the artist 1997

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Scottish Art