Peter Burke

Description

Like a ghost encased in steel, Peter Burke's Vessel continues the sculptor's interest with the human body, which is core to Burke's to practice and here it is presented as a study of geometry, precise and rhythmical. Its contours pick out an amazing amount of detail and the hollow form reminds one of an ancient urn.

The life size form is placed upside-down, this complete reversal of usual body language, creates immediate interest. The metal rods sit upon one another, generating a sense of equilibrium as the centre of gravity runs from foot to crown. The resulting tower forms a replicate of a human body and is welded together, involving Burke's training as an engineer as an invaluable part of the process. Despite being individual blocks of matter, they are fashioned as a collective order in keeping with Burke's long-standing interest in mass production.

One witnesses curves and indentations as the body is mapped by Burke's intricate placing, creating a space that is more like a body trace than a person, something there and not there. This semi-transparency enforces a light, hollow aesthetic, exemplifying the meaning of the title Vessel. This also calls to mind the language of the potter, which is littered with bodily names such as lip, foot or neck. This is an unusual view of the body and Burke manages to convey it with minimal means, employing stacking, the most basic method of construction. The work raises deep questions about human function and meaning, which Burke asks in a subtle and intriguing tone.

studio photography by Richard Butcher