ALEXIS PESKINE
About Alexis
ALEXIS PESKINE | OCTOBER GALLERY | @ALEXISPESKINE
Alexis Peskine’s signature works are large-scale mixed media ‘portraits’ of the African diaspora, which are rendered by hammering nails of different gauge, with pin-point accuracy, into wood stained with coffee and mud. By applying gold leaf to the nails he creates breathtaking composite images. He depicts figures that portray strength and perseverance, with energy reminiscent of the spiritually charged Minkisi ‘power figures’ of the Congo Basin. He also produces striking photography and video works.
After a 2016 showing at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London, Peskine had his first solo exhibition at October Gallery in 2017, with major exposure at international art fairs with the Gallery in the following years. Alongside this in 2016, Institut Francais, Dakar, Senegal held Raft of Medusa: Le retour de la vague, a solo exhibition of Peskine’s works. In 2018, his works were featured in the exhibition In Their Own Form at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago and Africa House’s Second Generation exhibition in New York.
He has been the recipient of many prestigious prizes including a Fulbright scholarship and Hennessy Black Masters Art Competition award. In the past decade, Peskine has worked with inner-city youth in France, Senegal, and Brazil to create a number of monumental pieces, the largest of which was produced in France in 2012. Major museums and collectors including Peggy Cooper Cafritz; Laurence Graff OBE; the New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, USA; The Harvard Art Fogg Museum, Cambridge, USA; Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, USA; and Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP), Chicago, USA, have collected Peskine’s works.
The Interview
Tell us about the music you chose to build your playlist and why you picked these songs.
I like dissonance in music. I like poetry, word plays, lyricism, metaphors, dexterity. My life work is about us. About the Black experience, about Blackness, and many songs on this list suggests that. I am very melancholic. I am also quite romantic privately and sexual energy in music resonates within me. I appreciate solidão and profound sadness, but I am a Libra and need to break it with joy, and cute light-hearted happiness.
Does the music you listen to inspire any of your work? *
Definitely, as well as books, real-life situations films, and conversations. Anything that affects me emotionally. I react to it and put that energy into my work.
Who is your top artist and why? *
Stevie Wonder, for he’s soft, free, honest he’s all about love. He speaks with his heart, he is extremely experimental yet super successful at touching all hearts. He’s the king of dissonance and experimental melodies. His lyrics are just moving and engaging, conscious, militant, and passionate. Gilberto Gil, also for being experimental, free, militant, coming from love. KAYTRANADA, for his rhythmicality and dissonant melodies. The Internet, for their experimental mix of rock, R&B, rap, trap, their nonchalance, softness, love, and because Syd is one of the very rare women writing unapologetic love songs exclusively to women. Kota The Friend because I think he’s the wisest, most honest, and sensible rapper of all time. He’s very relatable and sensible, and simple. He doesn’t try to display bravado even though he lived a hard life. Also, he makes his own music very simply, and beautifully, and I relate tremendously to his love for his son. Saba, for his honesty, dexterity, lyricism non-violent raps, and high and cool and mellow energy as well as storytelling. GoldLink because of his dexterity and how he curates the music on which he raps. Hard beats as well as beautiful dissonant rhythmic melodies.
Tell us about your process and how you tune in when you are ready to begin creating. *
I am always observing the world and looking inward as well. I also constantly look for truths, knowledge, new music, books, art, food by and of Black Peoples. I travel, Shazam, and purchase music. I don’t really do Spotify and them because I minimize subscriptions, and I like to be intentional about what I listen to. I like to acquire music, it makes me feel closer to it. I do 3 types of work. Nail and power figures pieces. Photo work. And film. While reading, documenting and writing, or sketching I need to be in a silent zone. When photographing, or filming, I do so in a very ritualistic way, so I also communicate with my collaborators through silent energy. When I execute my Nail works, edit photos, or any type of execution-based work, I do listen to music.
Tell us more about your practice. What inspires your work and how does your playlist inspire you? *
My playlist inspires me where songs like “Rumble” might give me the courage to go to war, songs like “Crown” inspire me to reach higher levels and achieve greatness. “Nothing Nice” makes me sink in melancholy, and appreciate the sadness and give me hope for something better and beautiful, another summer. “Masque Blanc” reinforces my aspirations of unity, empowerment, and Pan-Africanism. “Get By” reminds me of the strength, beauty, and resilience of our people and tells me we’re headed towards gaining power and glory.