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Martin Harris
| Fan | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Martin Harris |
| Alias(es): | |
| Type: | Fan, fan artist, professional artist |
| Fandoms: | Science Fiction, UFO, Doctor Who, Thunderbirds |
| Communities: | Doctor Who Club of Victoria |
| Other: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Martin Harris (21 November 1963 – 26 November 2021) was an Australian science fiction fan and artist.
Early Days in Fandom
Martin supported Animal Rights. He loved Famous Monsters magazine, of which he obtained his first issue from the Black Rock Newsagency in 1975, with its cover showing Christopher Lee. Martin then went to buy the magazine from Space Age Books in 1977. One of his favourite shows in those days was Dark Shadows and the original Planet of the Apes.
Martin became a member of the Doctor Who Club of Victoria in the early-to-mid-1980s. He was into most things most kids in his early school days were not.[1]
Later Life
Creating is my raison det’re. (Martin, 17 August 2017)[2]
Martin created artwork of Thunderbirds and UFO. He painted "Little Monster" cars. He made 8mm horror films on film (which you needed an old-style film projector to watch). He created artwork for toys from Hong Kong.
Martin was proud of his Kaiju Sofubi toys and he owned a lot of Corgi and Dinky cars.
Art
Martin spoke of the inspiration in his art:
My pictures attempt to lift the veil as it were so that others may glimpse this ‘other world’. My fascination and love of children’s picture books, comics, toys, 1960s television (Thunderbirds, Dr Who, and Pinky & Perky to name but a few) combined with my childhood memories and my love of animals are the basis and inspiration for my art."[3]
He expanded his talents to encompass professional art.
Vale
Martin died in 2021, and he is survived by his partner, who eulogised him:
Please let us all honour a man who gave graciously of his time, who always thought about others and who brought joy to those fortunate enough to be exposed to him personally and or via his beautiful art.[4]
Interviews
- Martin Harris and His Kaiju Friends by Jessica Steger, Outre Gallery (October 27, 2021)
- Art Talk – Martin Harris by Josh Griffiths, ArtWhore (August 17, 2017) (via wayback Jan 23/25)
Gallery
Astronaut Paul Foster from UFO (Interceptor 3 fanzine).
References
- ^ Notes supplied by his friend Heathclyff
- ^ Josh Griffiths, Art Talk – Martin Harris, ArtWhore, 17 August 2017
- ^ Jessica Steger, Martin Harris and His Kaiju Friends, Outré Gallery, 27 October 2021.
- ^ Robert Brokenmouth, The art and tragically unnecessary death of Martin Harris, The I-94 Bar (2021) (via wayback Apr 7/25)