Peter Mammes
- absurd objects and other relics for the future -
24 Feb - 3 March 2010
Absurd objects and other relics for the future.
Wednesday 24 February 2010 at 19h30 (open until 3 March 2010)
Venue: Upstairs at Bamboo, 53 Rustenburg road Melville
Conceptual artist makes absurd and controversial artworks
that provoke and challenge our concepts of reality.
An exhibition of modern sculptures, drawings and paintings made by the sometimes obscure and reclusive artist Peter Mammes. One-half of the exhibition will consist of sculptures and puppets that deal with the absurd and strange. Because of the elaborate themes and research, the content of the work will be interesting even for those who are not inclined to view and appreciate art. The work will illustrate macabre subjects and medical anomalies far removed from the everyday and should appeal to anyone's curious side.
Peter has spent a long time researching his subjects, finding the bizarre side of "normality" in the past and the present for this body of work. The artworks with the strange images, concepts and uncomfortable subjects they deal with, have succeeded in alienating and disturbing those who have seen them.
The work has been described as "something you would find in a serial killer's living room." by one observer. Peter wants to stress the fact that to disturb and alienate is not the intention of the work, the real intention is to understand the thin line between the absurd past and "normal" present. The artworks deal with our perception of normal and what society wants you to think is normal. An illustration of this is evident in George Orwell's book Nineteen Eighty Four when the main character is confronted with the notion that 2+2=5 because society dictated this to him contrary to reality. Our perception of normality and sane can also be seen to contradict reality depending on your perception. Just because morals are formed and regulated by other people's opinions of normal and sane does not make them so. Which brings us to another statement made in Nineteen Eighty-Four:
"Just because you are in a minority of one does not make you insane."
The other half of the exhibition will be a colorful kaleidoscope of images concerned with the depiction of symmetry and patterning. The images involve mathematical shapes, play of symmetry and line, and are abstract in nature even though figures and objects are depicted.
Influenced by Soviet Russian propaganda, some of the works are comments on the absurdity of war, the aesthetics of war-machines and weapons. The time, effort and expertise that should be used for the benefit of humanity are wasted in making pointless arms and ammunition, and the people who pay in the end is the innocent men, women and children.
About the artist
Peter Mammes is a post-modern artist using traditional techniques to
make contemporary art; he believes in researching his subjects
and is always finding new ideas in libraries, museums and monuments.
He is an amateur astronomer, puppet maker and collector of strange
items. Peter also finds his ideas whilst traveling; he has recently
traveled by road from South Africa to Egypt to gather ideas and inspiration.
More of
his ideas and work can be found on his
website: www.kettlehandle.com
| phone: 0833671860 | email: kettlehandle@gmail.com