Peck’s works embody a photographic stillness suggesting a caught moment in the midst of flurried action
Michael Peck participates in a project of world making, creating spaces so intimate that the viewer cannot help but to feel as if they have stumbled upon a scene not meant for their eyes. There is an uncanny ambiguity as to the intent of his child subjects. The intensity of their concentration is mesmerising but the question lingers: are they innocents engaged in the imaginary games of childhood or survivalists adapting to a world without adult supervision and denied the luxury of play?
Peck’s works embody a photographic stillness suggesting a caught moment in the midst of flurried action. There is a calm that belies the activity within, children’s hands, birds’ wings and flowing creeks all temporarily stilled. The artist’s works raise questions about childhood and innocence, about the relationship between culture and nature and progress and conflict. The beauty lies in the absence of a clear answer, the works open up a plethora of possibilities and leave the audience the freedom to seek their own answers.
Born in Melbourne in 1977, Michael Peck has a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) in Painting from Monash University. He has stahed numerous exhibitions since 1998, and hs been a recipient of the National Gallery of Victoria’s Trustees Award. Peck was a finalist in the 2010 Dobell Drawing Prize, the 2005 Metro Art Award, and the 2013 and 2014 Sulman Prize. In 2012 he was a finalist in the Archibald Prize and highly commended in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. In 2013 he won the People’s Choice Nillumbik Art Prize, Melbourne. His public commission works include a wall mural for Oxford Art Factory. His work is held in Monash University art collection and private collections Australia, London, New York and Hong Kong.