Peter has been working on the series of masks exhibited in the gallery for the past two years. He explained in 2008 'Bob was my first born. I named him Bob because i was thinking about Bob Geldof and all the good work he had done for the children of Africa. Each bottle top represents a child he has saved and the figure in the centre depicts a happy child shown by the sign of the child with their arms open wide. There is also a musical element to each of my masks and in Bob this also references Bob Geldof the musician'
'At the end of a hard days labour, the older women come back from working in the fields and sit outside their houses and sing. It is not a singing with words, more a rhythmic humming. They close their eyes and rock whilst they hum. The sounds rest in the air. Porcupine quills are often used in jewellery worn by the women' Peter Sek - 2008
Artists Bazaar Price £320
Singing Lady - 2006
Signed by the artist
8 x 13 x 13ins
Hardwood, bottle tops, copper, assorted woods
Like Singing Woman this mask shows a woman humming at the end of a hard days work. Although this piece is simpler in visual detail to the others in the series, its secrets lie in the application of the materials to bring out the essence of the mask. For example when tapped the coat-hanger arching out resonates at a different pitch throughout its length and is tipped with a flattened copper bell that can also produce sound. The round mouth leads us to the deep humming made by the woman which can be heard when tapped' Peter Sek - 2008
'Yemba is a man, a young man of around 20 to 25 years old. He sings from his heart in a deep voice which is why his mouth is round. When the young men sing and dance they wear shakers around their arms and head. The bottle tops at the top of the mask represent these shakers and produce a similar sound. The copper piece on the forehead can also be hit like a drum to produce a rhythmic beat.' Peter Sek - 2008
