A leading figure in Australian printmaking, Martin King combines poetic sensitivity with technical mastery. In 'tree of life, diary of lost souls no 2', birds appear as both pages from a book and leaves from a tree—a lyrical interplay between nature and narrative set against the quiet silhouette of a bare tree. Through his subtle layering of print and photographic processes, King evokes the slow turning of time and the cyclical rhythm of the seasons, inviting viewers to trace their own passage through its shifting planes and contemplative space.

The work depicts two trees—Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum) and Fraxinus excelsior (English Ash)—fused into a single hybrid form that symbolizes the intersection of colonized and native habitats. Embedded within this merging are pages from the diary of John Cotton (1802–1849), a Victorian naturalist and pastoralist whose illustrations of Eastern Australian birds document a 19th-century colonial gaze. By weaving Cotton’s imagery into this hybrid landscape, King bridges past and present, reflecting on how historical encounters with nature continue to shape contemporary environmental consciousness.

King is recognised as one of Australia’s foremost contemporary printmakers. His residencies span France, Morocco, India and Antarctica, and his many accolades include the WAMA Art Prize (2023), National Print and Drawing Prize (2022), Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award (2022) and Muswellbrook Drawing Prize (2019). His work is represented in major public collections including the British Museum, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria and Art Gallery of New South Wales, among others.

Infused with a sense of anima mundi - the world’s soul connecting all living things - 'tree of life, diary of lost souls no 2' is a  mediation on passage, belonging, and the invisible threads that bind memory, nature, and spirit.

Martin KING (1957 - )
'tree of life, diary of lost souls no 2'
etching, photopolymer gravure, chin-colle on paper
Edition of 30
Image Size: 90 x 130 cm 
Paper Size: 100 x 145 cm
Dimensions: 111 x 156 x 5 cm
Signed: Signed, titled and editioned in margin

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Excellent.

(c) The Artist or Assignee