Alexis Peskine - Forest Figures
The simplest way to describe Peskine is that he is a portraitist, with the exceptional nuance being that his primary medium is nails. As in the kind you hammer. Peskine “paints” by varying the thickness, diameter of the heads (which are sometimes coloured or covered in gold leaf) and the length he leaves them extruded from the board into which they are nailed. It’s essentially a three dimensional variation of the way comics and newspapers are printed. You could make a strong argument that his work is actually sculpture, but I’ll let the art pedants discuss that amongst themselves.
Seen from a distance, these portraits look like large scale black & white photos. As you approach the portraits appear to fade and their structure is slowly revealed, as your eyes refocus on views beneath the surface. You’ll see how many nails are used, their various sizes and the gaps between them. You might even see shadows depending on the brightness of the gallery lights. The works are not an optical illusion, but they do cause moments where you’re easily distracted by trying to understand how they’re made.
Peskine’s use of the Ben Day process is not unique (Lichtenstein adapted it for pop art) but his application is incredibly distinct. It’s so strong, in fact, that after seeing some of his works in a recent group show I started to question just how much range it might afford, and wondered whether it might grow tiresome and repetitive. Many artists find a niche and happily settle in, but Peskine clearly has bigger aspirations than monetising a successful formula.
Earlier iterations were mostly hammered into black boards that replicated standard frame shapes, though he clearly favoured rounds and ovals. The shapes lent an air of authority and seriousness to the works. Like an aristocrat’s portrait hanging in a royal estate. But in these latest works the portraits have broken free. They are hammered into a variety of natural and organic forms augmented with colours and patterned backgrounds that evoke freedom and movement. They feel more natural. They feel alive.
One man appears on a giant golden shell. A woman occupies a gourd shaped slice of a tree, with its layers of rings and bark edges peeking out from beneath a shiny, heavily lacquered surface. Two large white ovals have gold-filled crevices, giving them the appearance of decorated cowrie shells. Reading the labels I was intrigued to see mint and basil listed amongst the materials. I sniffed around for scent, but then realised Peskine uses their leaves to create patterned stains onto the backing panels.
These are big, bold, powerful representations of people. Headshots made larger than life. The only problem is that I don't have a clue who anyone is. When viewing portraits I am always curious about the subject. Who are they? What is their story? Here it is left unsaid, so I make things up based on the way he has embellished the frames. A rare side profile appears on a sweeping green shape that reminded me of a bird in flight, or a handkerchief flying in the wind. It’s fluid and filled with motion. I imagine the man might have just jumped up to dive into a forest lake.
Breaking free from traditional framing opens up a world of storytelling possibilities, and enables Peskine to more deeply investigate the Black Experience and his heritage. Born in France of Afro-Brazilian/Russian descent, these new canvasses are inspired by spiritual aspects from Africa. They notably incorporate symbolic materials such as indigo, coffee and earth. As the gallery notes, it is a “complex visual narrative charged with the echoes of centuries of exploitation” but these works are not outwardly political. History can’t be ignored, and Peskine is leveraging it as a foundation of strength to propel forward.
I found these portraits to be celebratory, and a pleasant surprise in the ways Peskine has evolved and expanded his practice.
Plan your visit
‘Forest Figures’ runs until 09 November.
Visit octobergallery.co.uk and follow @octobergallerylondon on Instagram for more info about the venue.
Follow @alexispeskine on Instagram for more info about the artist.
PLUS…
Check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter. (It’s FREE!)