SOUTHSEA FINE ARTIST SHARES HIS CONTEMPORARY RE-IMAGINING OF THE NATIVITY
Tonight sees the opening of ‘Naivety’, a contemporary nativity exhibition of artwork by local fine artist Pete Codling at Jack House Gallery. After a busy year of creating new work, exhibitions plus an Artist Residency in the cupula/dome of Portsmouth Cathedral(!) this exhibition will see out 2018 in style.
In an antidote perhaps to the saccharine and commercial fest that Christmas has become Naivety is a contemporary Nativity scene created by looking at the traditional players of the Christmas story and re-inventing them through a contemporary lens. Pete Codling’s large series of charcoal drawings was made with the intention to open some seasonal discussion on what Christmas is about for all of us. It is a body of work which throws up so many questions and sparks interaction between the viewer, the work and the artist which is exactly what the artist thrives on.
Pete Codling’s large series of charcoal drawings was made with the intention to open some seasonal discussion on what Christmas is about for all of us…
Baa Humbug
…narrative references to classical, mythological and religious themes with contemporary subversions…
Pete’s ‘take’ on the 3 Wise Men has the viewer asking who would they maybe choose to represent that particular visiting delegation in their own imaginary version. The heavenly host of angels are riot police with golden helmet halos, Gandhi has a walk on part as a shepherd, well known faces appear as players and familiar scenarios play out to both jarring and sometimes comically poignant effect.
“His work is full of narrative references to classical, mythological and religious themes with contemporary subversions, political and personal content. The illustrative and loaded images are composed to hold an audience in ways a photograph cannot.” – Jack House Gallery
The ‘private view’ is this evening Thursday 6th December from 6pm and the exhibition will then run from the 7th December to 12 January 2019. This stunning work is well worth seeing in a gallery environment in Portsmouth, one not to be missed.
To see the full series click here and to find out more visit the Jack House Gallery website at:
King Herod
Malala
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