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Forest Figures: A Solo Exhibition by Alexis Peskine at October Gallery

The October Gallery is hosting "Forest Figures," a solo exhibition of new works by acclaimed artist Alexis Peskine. This seals the artist’s third presentation at the gallery.


Alexis Peskine, Kékéréké, 2024. White and black paint, archival varnish, 24k gold leaf and nails on wood, 150 x 110 cm
Alexis Peskine, Kékéréké, 2024. White and black paint, archival varnish, 24k gold leaf and nails on wood, 150 x 110 cm


"Forest Figures" explores the rich, healing powers of ancestral African spirituality. Peskine's large-scale mixed media portraits are created by hammering nails of varying sizes into wooden canvases, drawing inspiration from the spiritually charged Minkisi 'power figures' of the Congo Basin. The exhibition also incorporates elements of Afro-Brazilian spirituality, particularly the Orishas, which serve as a conceptual framework for the works.


Peskine's innovative use of materials, including Japanese oxidised gold, silver, and palladium leaf, adds a luminous quality to the heads of the nails. His new works feature natural forms such as tree trunks, leaf patterns, and shells, symbolising the prophetic 'mouth of the Orisha' and reflecting his deep connection to the natural world.


In one piece, Peskine repurposes Botticelli's scallop shell from "The Birth of Venus," challenging Western beauty standards. He also reclaims the oval form of 18th-century upper-class portraits, celebrating the beauty and individuality of the African diaspora.


Alexis Peskine, Séetal, 2024. White and black paint, archival varnish, 24k gold leaf and nails on wood, 150 x 111 cm
Alexis Peskine, Séetal, 2024. White and black paint, archival varnish, 24k gold leaf and nails on wood, 150 x 111 cm


Based in Paris, Peskine's global artist residencies, including recent stays in Brazil and Cameroon, inform his diverse subjects. His portraits capture a sense of self-possession and resilience in their subjects' gazes. Through his observations of people worldwide, Peskine concludes that our time calls for unity and "oneness."


His exploration of the Black Experience is evident in his choice of materials and colours, such as the use of indigo pigment, a direct reference to its production by enslaved Caribbean labourers.


The exhibition opens from October 3rd to November 9th, 2024 and coincides with the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House, London, running from October 10th to 13th.

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Forest Figures: A Solo Exhibition by Alexis Peskine at October Gallery

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