My name is Peter Mammes, I was born in 1986. I am a visual artist
I am a disconnected Human being, I relate to Kafka's Metamorphosis and Gogol's Diary of a madman. I sometimes feel my humanity slipping away. I feel dehumanised by others.
I am interested in the absurdity of society and our daily lives. My work aims at finding the absurd and bizarre elements and ideas of the past, to compare it to the present “normal” and then to find the correlation between the two. My work challenges the concept of normal and ordinary. Taken out of context even the things we take for granted are bizarre. Everything is subjective and I do not believe that a true reality exists beyond our senses because how else could reality be perceived?
‘Anything could be true. The so-called laws of Nature were nonsense. The law of gravity was nonsense. 'If I wished,' O'Brien had said, 'I could float off this floor like a soap bubble.' Winston worked it out. 'If he thinks he floats off the floor, and if I simultaneously think I see him do it, then the thing happens.'
From nineteen eighty four by George Orwell
I try to exclude myself from society, by not watching television, not listening to the radio and not reading the Newspaper. I am trying to find my own reality, perhaps my own soul not influenced by popular culture. I choose what I read and listen to, I choose what to watch and I form my own opinion. I do not think there are many people out there who form their own opinion. Why should I have society and the world governments breathing down my neck and dictating my thoughts through their instruments? People are losing their humanity and becoming zombies, mass culture and consumerism is destroying our humanity. It is almost frowned upon to be human and real. The above reason is why I believe in traditional techniques and art. I want to enliven my work with drawing, painting and sculpture; I limit myself so that I can create a style and express my fears in an intelligent manner. I believe it is through our limitations and restrictions that we forge styles and identities. Just like my father used to say when I complained about something, he used to say ‘it builds character'. I am against people who hide behind traditional techniques because they cannot adapt to a new world; that is not what I am doing or advocating. I am saying that people should not be awed by something just because of the medium or manner that it is presented but should look at the central core and dedication of what is being done.
I do not want to be just a project manager; it is my labour and effort that makes my artworks unique and special.
I do not see myself as a South African artist because that would imply that I am patriotic, I am not and could never be patriotic because patriotism is idiotic and self destructive. I see myself rather as a human artist. I am an artist trapped in South Africa because of rules and regulations imposed by people who believe that they have authority, and believe they can dictate what I think. I am not a communist because I do not believe that the proletariat should dictate my thoughts. I do not believe in democracy either because I do not think that the uneducated should decide my future.
I am disconnected and I want to escape society.
I have travelled Africa extensively, having travelled from Cape Town, South Africa to Alexandria, Egypt by hitchhiking and public transport (busses, boats, taxis, bicycle and walking). The countries that I have seen that are the most interesting are Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. Addis Ababa is the most incredible place I have seen. I travel to get ideas for my projects and to see the local gallery scenes and to meet contacts in the art world.
I am an amateur astronomer and I have a Short tube Reflector Telescope.
I keep invertebrates and I have two tarantulas, a Bahia Scarlet Bird Eater, and a Honduras Curly hair. I also have a Tailless Whip scorpion.
I am always open for collaborations or any interesting projects. Please contact me with anything interesting
.