Peter Wilkins
Encyclopedia
Peter Wilkins is a British multimedia artist living in Newfoundland, Canada. He is best known for his kinetic portraits, in particular, 12 Kinetic Portraits of Canadian Writers. These works have been exhibited at The Rooms
Provincial Gallery in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
and the entire suite was purchased by the Portrait Gallery of Canada in 2008. Wilkins' most recent work investigated the modernist design of Gander International Airport. These artworks, digital print and video, were exhibited at The Rooms Provincial Gallery as part of Newtopia from Sept 2008 - January 2009. In the summer of 2009 his portraits of Prominent Newfoundlanders will be exhibited at Confederation Centre for the Arts in Prince Edward Island. He is currently the artist-in-residence at Memorial University of Newfoundland
.
Wilkins has appeared on British TV, as co-host in Dom Joly's Happy Hour for Sky TV. The pair travelled the world exploring global drinking habits and how different cultures approached alcohol. Wilkins also accompanied Dom Joly in Excellent Adventures, again for Sky TV and broadcast on the OLN network in Canada.
(now Brunel University
). Wilkins lived in London until 1991 when he moved to Canada and then Prague. Since 1998, he has lived in Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada.
The wines featured in this series are Beaujolais (Gamay), Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Zinfandel. The large scale work, Shiraz, can be seen at the Christina Parker Gallery in Downtown St. John's
, Newfoundland and Labrador.
in Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island. The exhibit marks the 60th year of Newfoundland’s Confederation with Canada.
In 2005 and 2006, Wilkins created 12 Kinetic Portraits of Canadian Writers. Combining explorations of portraiture, technology and interpretation, these portraits feature representations of twelve celebrated Canadian writers, including Margaret Atwood
, Roch Carrier
, Austin Clarke
, Douglas Coupland
, Wayne Johnston, Anne-Marie MacDonald, Alistair MacLeod
, Yann Martel
, Anne Michaels
, David Adams Richards
, Jane Urquhart
and M.G. Vassanji. Off-camera, Wilkins has engaged his sitters in a series of personal questions, exploring their hopes, fears and ideals. The resulting likenesses embody the process of "sitting" itself, pushing the traditional idea of portraiture by adding the dimension of time. The exhibition was curated by Bruce Johnson for The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John's, NL.
The Portrait Gallery of Canada
acquired 12 Kinetic Portraits of Canadian Writers in 2008.
in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
. Wilkins used a range of processes, from the durational to the optical to present the airport in a new light.
This collection was included as part of Newtopia, an exhibition curated by Bruce Johnson at The Rooms
in St. John's, Newfoundland in 2008/2009 that explored key developments in modern Newfoundland, considering the new province's early decades as a series of Utopian experiments.
. During his tenure, he will focus on creating a range of group portraits within the Faculty of Arts. According to Wilkins 'it is the coming together of individuals of different ages, nationalities, religions, disciplines and backgrounds that is the key process of learning. To reflect this process I want to create kinetic portraits of various groups that naturally meet as part of the day to day business within the Faculty of Arts, including but not confined to large classes, seminars, discussion groups, one to one conversations, departmental meetings, faculty meetings and administrative groups.
in a documentary as part of a series on Sky One
. Dom Joly's Excellent Adventure involved the two travelling to Beirut for the first time since Joly left in the late 1980s, and embarking on a road trip through the Syrian Desert to find a cave in which Joly had scrawled his name as a child. They did discover it after much searching.
The DVD was released on October 1, 2007.
is the world's 2nd largest hydroelectric plant. Wilkins plans to artistically capture and represent the enormous hydro generating power of the Churchill Falls Hydro Plant, building on his existing techniques, from creating abstract patterns with photographic realism and using time based works focusing on the movement, relationship and evolvement of colour and form.
The Rooms
The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The facility opened in 2005 and houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.On a hill overlooking...
Provincial Gallery in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
and the entire suite was purchased by the Portrait Gallery of Canada in 2008. Wilkins' most recent work investigated the modernist design of Gander International Airport. These artworks, digital print and video, were exhibited at The Rooms Provincial Gallery as part of Newtopia from Sept 2008 - January 2009. In the summer of 2009 his portraits of Prominent Newfoundlanders will be exhibited at Confederation Centre for the Arts in Prince Edward Island. He is currently the artist-in-residence at Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
.
Wilkins has appeared on British TV, as co-host in Dom Joly's Happy Hour for Sky TV. The pair travelled the world exploring global drinking habits and how different cultures approached alcohol. Wilkins also accompanied Dom Joly in Excellent Adventures, again for Sky TV and broadcast on the OLN network in Canada.
Personal life
Peter grew up in Leicestershire, England. He attended Stowe School in Buckinghamshire and then studied computing and business at the West London Institute of Higher EducationWest London Institute of Higher Education
The West London Institute of Higher Education was located in Isleworth, West London, UK from 1976 until 1995 when it merged with Brunel University.- Establishment :...
(now Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
). Wilkins lived in London until 1991 when he moved to Canada and then Prague. Since 1998, he has lived in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada.
The Colour of Wine
The Colour of Wine investigates and celebrates the varying and contrasting colours of wine. The completed works are reminiscent of colourfield paintings in their luminescence and depth of colour. While they work as form of abstract expressionism, they also accurately document and present the tonal shifts and depth of colour within a glass of wine. Each wine glass is held at a 45 degree angle to capture the variation of colour, so what you see is the genuine portrayal of the colours within a glass of wine.The wines featured in this series are Beaujolais (Gamay), Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Zinfandel. The large scale work, Shiraz, can be seen at the Christina Parker Gallery in Downtown St. John's
Downtown St. John's
Downtown St. John's is the historic core and central business district of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Located north of St. John's harbour, it is the business, entertainment, and tourism centre with office buildings, hotels, restaurants, and other services.The historic boundaries...
, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Kinetic Portraits
In 2004 Peter exhibited his first series of Kinetic Portraits which were of 12 Prominent Newfoundlanders. Kinetic Portraits of 12 Prominent Newfoundlanders is currently on exhibit at the Confederation Centre of the ArtsConfederation Centre of the Arts
The Confederation Centre of the Arts is a cultural centre dedicated to the visual and performing arts located in the city of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.-History:...
in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island. The exhibit marks the 60th year of Newfoundland’s Confederation with Canada.
In 2005 and 2006, Wilkins created 12 Kinetic Portraits of Canadian Writers. Combining explorations of portraiture, technology and interpretation, these portraits feature representations of twelve celebrated Canadian writers, including Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
, Roch Carrier
Roch Carrier
Roch Carrier, OC is a Canadian novelist and author of "contes" . He is among the best known Quebec writers in English Canada....
, Austin Clarke
Austin Clarke
Austin Ardinel Chesterfield Clarke, is a Canadian novelist, essayist and short story writer who lives in Toronto, Ontario. Born in St...
, Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist. His fiction is complemented by recognized works in design and visual art arising from his early formal training. His first novel, the 1991 international bestseller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularized terms such as McJob and...
, Wayne Johnston, Anne-Marie MacDonald, Alistair MacLeod
Alistair MacLeod
Alistair MacLeod, OC is a noted Canadian author and retired professor of English at the University of Windsor.- Academic career :...
, Yann Martel
Yann Martel
Yann Martel is a Canadian author best known for the Man Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi.-Early life:Martel was born in Salamanca, Spain where his father was posted as a diplomat for the Canadian government. He was raised in Costa Rica, France, Mexico, and Canada...
, Anne Michaels
Anne Michaels
-Background:Anne Michaels was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1958. Michaels attended Vaughan Road Academy and then later the University of Toronto, where she is an adjunct faculty in the Department of English. Her first book, The Weight of Oranges , a volume of poetry, was awarded the Commonwealth...
, David Adams Richards
David Adams Richards
David Adams Richards, CM, ONB is a Canadian novelist, essayist, screenwriter and poet.Born in Newcastle, New Brunswick, Richards left St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, three credits shy of completing a B.A.. Richards has been a writer-in-residence at various universities and...
, Jane Urquhart
Jane Urquhart
Jane Urquhart, OC is a Canadian novelist and poet.-Biography:Born 200 miles north of Thunder Bay, Ontario in Little Longlac , Ontario, Jane Urquhart is the third of three children and the only daughter of Marian and Walter Carter, a prospector and mining engineer...
and M.G. Vassanji. Off-camera, Wilkins has engaged his sitters in a series of personal questions, exploring their hopes, fears and ideals. The resulting likenesses embody the process of "sitting" itself, pushing the traditional idea of portraiture by adding the dimension of time. The exhibition was curated by Bruce Johnson for The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John's, NL.
The Portrait Gallery of Canada
Portrait Gallery of Canada
The Portrait Gallery of Canada is a Canadian art collection specialising in portraiture. It was established on 23 January 2001 by the Government of Canada as a program of Library and Archives Canada....
acquired 12 Kinetic Portraits of Canadian Writers in 2008.
Gander International
Gander International is an exploration of the design and aesthetic of late 1950s modernism at Gander International AirportGander International Airport
Gander International Airport is located in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and is currently run by the Gander Airport Authority. Canadian Forces Base Gander shares the airfield but is a separate entity from the airport.-Early years and prominence:...
in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
. Wilkins used a range of processes, from the durational to the optical to present the airport in a new light.
This collection was included as part of Newtopia, an exhibition curated by Bruce Johnson at The Rooms
The Rooms
The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The facility opened in 2005 and houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.On a hill overlooking...
in St. John's, Newfoundland in 2008/2009 that explored key developments in modern Newfoundland, considering the new province's early decades as a series of Utopian experiments.
Books
Johnson, Bruce. (2009). Disturbing the Universe: The Art of Peter Wilkins. Vinegar Hill Press. ISBN 978-0-9812467-0-3.Artist in Residence
Wilkins is the current Artist in Residence at Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
. During his tenure, he will focus on creating a range of group portraits within the Faculty of Arts. According to Wilkins 'it is the coming together of individuals of different ages, nationalities, religions, disciplines and backgrounds that is the key process of learning. To reflect this process I want to create kinetic portraits of various groups that naturally meet as part of the day to day business within the Faculty of Arts, including but not confined to large classes, seminars, discussion groups, one to one conversations, departmental meetings, faculty meetings and administrative groups.
Excellent Adventures
In 2005, Wilkins joined Dom JolyDom Joly
Dominic John Romulus "Dom" Joly is a British television comedian and journalist. He came to note as the star of Trigger Happy TV, a hidden camera show that was sold to over seventy countries worldwide...
in a documentary as part of a series on Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
. Dom Joly's Excellent Adventure involved the two travelling to Beirut for the first time since Joly left in the late 1980s, and embarking on a road trip through the Syrian Desert to find a cave in which Joly had scrawled his name as a child. They did discover it after much searching.
Dom Joly's Happy Hour
Dom Joly's Happy Hour is a spoof travel investigation in which Joly and Wilkins team up to explore drinking habits around the world. They travelled to the Southern States of the U.S., Russia, Australia, Europe and India. During the first documentary the pair explored Miami drinking styles, then met up with some hillbillies in the Appalachians tasting moonshine, and visited a gay cowboy bar in Atlanta before taking on the Christian right in Alabama's dry counties. After that, the pair travelled to Russia, trying 80% alcohol (by volume) homemade vodka known as Samogon. They then visited Australia, Mexico and Europe before ending the tour in India.The DVD was released on October 1, 2007.
Future Projects
Churchill FallsChurchill Falls
Churchill Falls are waterfalls named after former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. They are high, located on the Churchill River in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada....
is the world's 2nd largest hydroelectric plant. Wilkins plans to artistically capture and represent the enormous hydro generating power of the Churchill Falls Hydro Plant, building on his existing techniques, from creating abstract patterns with photographic realism and using time based works focusing on the movement, relationship and evolvement of colour and form.