Martin Browne Contemporary - Peter Cooley

This show ‘Through the Archipelago’, has everything a Parrot lover would want!

‘Pair of Cockatiels’, my heart filled with joy when I first saw these two little darlings poking there sweet yellow earthenware heads out of there earthenware tree homes. I checked the room sheet for how much they were and seriously considered making a purchase but alas I am in debt up to my eyeballs and was forced to listen to that little voice in my head, hopefully there will be a next time.

I loved them so much that I asked my niece to take a photo of them with me and have used it as the cover photo for Sixtoeight.

‘King Parrot’ has a regal stance about it, the powdery red head, beautiful striking green plumage atop of the shiny bronze glazed tree stump. This bird knows it’s place!

‘Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo’, is not a bird, that’s right but it thinks it’s a bird. Peter has this amazing ability to capture the essence of movement in earthenware even though the movement is very jarring, it’s abstract, it’s almost like the pieces are posing. Just like the ‘Major Mitchell Cockatoo 1-4’, you can see them slow dancing in their side step way. Even the glorious ‘Palm Cockatoo’ it’s form is pure abstraction.

That’s one of the aspects I love about Peter’s work, you are able to walk around it and see it in very different views. And for those tea drinkers you could have a set of ‘Major Mitchell Cups (Marquette's)’ or ‘4 Corella Cups (Marquette's)’ which would look fabulous on the side board.

Fleur MacDonald

2nd February - 26th February 2012
www.martinbrownecontemporary.com