{"id":40590,"date":"2018-04-26T19:50:50","date_gmt":"2018-04-26T23:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artoronto.ca\/?p=40590"},"modified":"2018-04-27T12:22:37","modified_gmt":"2018-04-27T16:22:37","slug":"peter-alexander-por-at-the-canadian-sculpture-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/v2.artoronto.ca\/?p=40590","title":{"rendered":"Peter Alexander Por \/ Canadian Sculpture Centre"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Artist Peter Alexander Por at the opening reception, April 21, 2018. Photo:\u00a0David Waldman<\/p>\n

Hosted at the Canadian Sculpture Centre by the Sculptors\u2019 Society of Canada is Peter Alexander Por\u2019s Catharsis<\/em>. This solo exhibition features a multitude of original pieces constructed with varying combinations of ready-made and fabricated materials, illiciting fine and crude aesthetic qualities harmoniously. The use of various metals and woods further create unique visual aspects that distinguish each work from another. Por\u2019s works range from the small and intricate, such as is seen in “Conundrum 2,” to the sizable and impressive, as in “Bombrella.” Some are more representative of existing objects, if only marginally to allow immediate recognition, while others strive to be more obscure and nondescript by incorporating unfamiliar components and assuming abstract forms. All of the works\u2019 complexities and features are evoked in both their aesthetics and imbedded meanings.<\/p>\n

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Peter Alexander Por,\u00a0Conundrum, mixed media. Photo:\u00a0David Waldman<\/p>\n

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Peter Alexander Por, Bombrella, mixed media, detail.\u00a0Photo: Simon Termine<\/p>\n

Por\u2019s works does not circle around a singular theme nor does it explicitly compel the audience to assume a particular stance. He encourages open discourse and interpretation on a variety of topics, political and apolitical. As suggested by the exhibition\u2019s title, the collection as a whole, as well as it separate components, is intended to provide relief from otherwise difficult thoughts and issues stemming from societal anxieties. Por wishes to ask the audience: \u201cWhat do these sculptures remind you of? Do they recollect visceral experiences? Do they convey strong emotions? Do they remind you of a person or place?\u201d The emphasis here is subjectivity, appealing to people\u2019s own memories, experiences, and emotions in order to derive their personal meanings from the works and examine Por\u2019s artistic decisions in each sculpture.<\/p>\n

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Peter Alexander Por,\u00a0Earthly Delight, mixed-media.\u00a0Photo: Simon Termine<\/p>\n

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Peter Alexander Por, Golden Shower (left) and Karma #7, (right) both mixed media.\u00a0Photo: Simon Termine<\/p>\n

According to Por, \u201csculpting for me is the most direct and powerful means of relating to and coping with the complexities of life. Our culture, dreams, world events, family issues, and found objects often find resonance in my eclectic projects and become participants in my cathartic experience!\u201d In essence, the works serve as a shared connection between the artist and the audience, offering both an opportunity to express themselves on personally and publicly controversial matters without imposition. Just as the works can represent Por\u2019s own ideas and communicate them, they can likewise draw the same effects from the viewers. When coupled with their aesthetic variety, the exhibition\u2019s appeal seems limitless.<\/p>\n

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Installation view with Peter Alexander Por, (from left to right) Nene, Fertility Fetish and Winged Victory.\u00a0Photo: Simon Termine<\/p>\n

When perusing Catharsis<\/em>, the sheer variety of works – each with their own sense of individuality yet still unified under a common ambiguity behind their laden meanings as the artist intended \u2013 continuously offers something new and interesting to explore.<\/p>\n

Simon Termine<\/p>\n

*Exhibition information: Peter Alexander Por,\u00a0Catharsis<\/em>, April 12 – May 4, 2018, Canadian Sculpture Centre,\u00a0500 Church Street. Gallery hours: Tue \u2013 Fri: 12 \u2013 6, Sat: 11 \u2013 4 pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Simon Termine<\/strong><\/p>\n

When perusing Catharsis<\/em>, the sheer variety of works – each with their own sense of individuality yet still unified under a common ambiguity behind their laden meanings as the artist intended \u2013 continuously offers something new and interesting to explore.<\/p>\n

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