Peter McCarthy
Princesse Yateenga, 2022
Nylon Zippers 94cm x 77cm
Peter McCarthy
Royal Blue, 2022
Nylon Zippers 65cm x 62cm
Peter McCarthy
The King Wore Red, 2022
nylon zippers 65cm x 65cm
Peter McCarthy
Anthem For New World Order, 2022
nylon zipper, nylon thread, brass rivets 300cm x 500cm (approx)
Peter McCarthy
When Asked to Look up, do not Lose Sight of What is on the Ground, 2022
hand woven and stitched nylon zips 195cm x 200cm
Peter McCarthy
Leadership is a Borrowed Garment, 2022
Hand woven and stitched nylon zips 205cm x 205cm
This work is a response to social, inter-ethnic, political needs of West Africa. The title is a local proverb which calls for humility and service.
Peter McCarthy
Royal Kita With Red Stripes, 2021
re-purposed nylon zippers 235cm x 215cm
Peter McCarthy
Royal Kita With Red Stripes, 2021
re-purposed nylon zippers 235cm x 215cm
During 2020, when Côte d'Ivoire was bracing itself for the potential of violent elections and feared another bloody civil unrest, I received a large donation of unwanted zippers. As I played with them in my studio and at home I was struck by their bold colours and the irony this presented. Zippers are only brightly coloured in order to blend in and disappear. They are intended to be invisible servants holding the object or garment together. I couldn’t resist playing with this. I started piecing them together into long, striped bands like traditional Kita (Kenté) cloth. This work is surprising, maybe even comical, but deep down for me it is a plea and prayer for the kind of leadership we need: humble persons willing to make themselves beautiful through service.
Peter McCarthy
Couronne, 2021
re-purposed nylon zippers 220cm x 30cm
