Peter McFarlane: Shapeshifters

Aug 12 2011 to Sep 03 2011

In an artist statement Peter says “The Chainsaw Mask series came about as a result of my connection to Pegasus.  The gallery has a vast collection of indigenous art and artefacts, and I was struck by how similar the shape of a Raven mask was to my chainsaw.  As the first chainsaw ‘shape-shifted’ into a metal mask in my studio, the play on ravens as ‘tricksters’ and ‘gluttons’ became obvious.  The fate of ‘clear-cut forests’ and ‘clear-cut cultures’ literally seemed to hang in the raven's beak.  I've included objects in the work that has transformed landscape, such as the chainsaw, machete, and various saws and blades and, as well, objects that speak symbolically to the loss of culture, history and technology as in the use of typewriter keys for feathers in ’Ravenous’.”