Fish Folk: Tales from Lepenski Vir

About

The Lepenski Vir, or "red clay whirlpool" is located on the right bank of the Danube in eastern Serbia. The true purpose of the sculptures is unknown but archaeologists theorise they represent a deity of great importance to the settlement. This is based on their locations within the site and a clear visual continuity across discovered sculptures, even across time. One anthropological theory to the spiritual significance of these sculptures contends that they represented the souls of the dead reincarnated into fish; that all men were children of the river. The Danube brought life to the Lepenski Vir culture in the form of a rich, sustainable food source and protection with a strong structural foundation and safety along the riverside. The sculptures found at the site combine fish and human features resulting in a strange but familiar expression. Their ornamentation resembles scales or the inner anatomy of a fish, suggesting a deep connection between the people and the river. Weaver visually connects with a culture lost to time through sculpture, tapestries and video art. Her work aims to capture a life cycle; death, rebirth and reflection while also mirroring the process of archeological discovery.

Funding provided by the Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards: Aberdeen in partnership with Creative Learning and Creative Scotland.