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A former care sector worker has shared his his journey into the art world and how a bout of 'jungle fever' inspired his latest show.
For Peter John Thomson, creativity has always been the main pathway. After finishing school, he started working at Jersey Pottery, training as a ceramic decorator and earning the nickname ‘PJ’ which still follows him to this day.
After travelling, PJ changed careers and joined the care sector. He worked for Les Amis for 15 years and with the charity’s support completed the Foundation certificate in Art and Design at Highlands. PJ then went on to Huddersfield University where he obtained a1st class BSc (hons) in Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors.
After a brief return at Les Amis, he went back to Highlands - this time as a Lecturer, a role he still holds to this day.
Pictured: "My inspirations have always been the natural world, either from the environment or and animal kingdom."
This month, he is presenting his first solo show at CCA Galleries International, ‘Jungle Fever’, a series of silkscreen prints made with individual paper cut stencils built in layers to create “chaotic and busy works full of colour.”
He shared his inspirations with Express...
My practice is always in development as this is the only thing I have ever known, so I have always had to feed that hunger, I don’t think I can stop as its really part of my character. My specialisms rotate around ceramic decoration, textiles and printmaking which I am consistently blending and overlapping. These three areas of interest are always in constant play and I am forever working at blending and refining them. Colour and pattern have always appealed to me, so I have used that thread as a consistent theme to my work. I have over the years become obsessed with various themes which always rooted to nature.
My inspirations have always been the natural world, either from the environment or and animal kingdom. I would say I have a fairly pagan outlook and enjoy celebrating the joy I take from nature. I like to connect myths, folktales and meaning on a subtle level and there is always an autobiographical element to my work.
‘Jungle Fever’ has been inspired from my experiences over the last couple of years and is connected to life and death, the idea of ignorance is bliss as well as the overwhelming and crushing feelings I have experienced as I grow older.
Pictured: "Colour and pattern have always appealed to me, so I have used that thread as a consistent theme to my work."
I felt the jungle encapsulated my experience of modern life as environment all of its own. My observation is that the Jungle though beautiful and full of life also harbours danger and caution, nothing is stationary. I loved the idea of how terms such as ‘survival of the fittest’ and ‘law of the jungle’ all come from this magical place, and that though it is a beguiling place it is also terrifying and claustrophobic and confusing. All of these emotions I connect to.
My main inspiration was the jungle paintings by Henri Rousseau as I adore the emotive qualities of his work and I am in love with the fauvist art movement in general.
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