Peter Baker
Process
The plaster I use is a lime based marble plaster. By using an opaque aggregate such as marble dust, one greatly increases the plaster's translucency. The light penetrates the surface and reflects off the marble particles beneath. When used in conjunction with pigment, it increases the colour's intensity. Building up the finished surface through a series of fine layers of plaster lends strength and allows for the slightest colour manipulation. The plaster sets to a hard durable finish, suitable for internal and external settings.
Into the plaster I set cross sections of objects - both natural and man-made - that have a relevance to the setting. The objects are then polished down flat into the surface of the plaster, and have the appearance of being fine detail abstract illustrations of themselves.
Why work on bricks?
The size of the brick is on a human scale. A brick fits into a human hand. My aim is to condense ideas down no matter how large or complex, and to present them on this human scale - the face of a brick.
I see bricks as an expression of our belief in a positive future. The fact that we are willing to invest in buildings, and give care and thought to the construction of them, using such substantial materials as bricks, would seem to indicate that there is the will to believe in a positive future.
I use the brick for it's symbolic and metaphorical references as much as it's sound engineering qualities. In fact I see it as representing the building blocks of life, and as a means of forming our cultural and social identity.
About
I am an artist who works with marble plaster, on the face of individual house bricks. I either work on bricks in a wall, in response to the setting, or produce bricks in my studio to be shown in a gallery, or placed in a wall in the future.
Gallery
Click the thumbnails to view enlarged versions with further details.
Contact Me
Address: 86 Lindley Street, Holgate, York YO24 4JF
Telephone: (01904) 790494
Email: