Peter Prasil is one of
Australia's foremost furniture design makers, based in Maydena,
Tasmania. Prasil originally trained as a tool maker in Copenhagen,
since moving to Australia has gone on to complete a Bachelor or Fine
Arts graduating with a first class Honours, a Masters of Fine Art and
has since gone on to complete a PhD in 2000 from the University of
Tasmania. Prasil has exhibited extensively overseas and within
Australia, his work is held in numerous public and private collections
across Australia.
Screens and Barriers is Prasil’s latest solo
exhibition opening at Despard Gallery on 27th March, this exhibition
aims to incorporate the three elements of Prasil's practice, functional
design, furniture and sculpture.
“My approach to my work
is twofold. Coming to art and furniture design from engineering
background, which tends to result in my objects to look like non
descript scientific instrumentation, both visually and functionally
indeterminate for example my "Electric Chair". My objects are made to
appear to the viewer somewhat sinister or even harmful, if only he or
she could work out what they do and how they work. In figuring this
out, the viewer is forced to some sort of analysis and therefore
involved not only on a visual but also on a mental level. On the
other hand, my work is influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese forms,
materials and construction methods, this show is an example of my
interest in traditional joinery for example "Chest of Drawers" that
stands not only as a functional object, but also as a sculpture and
object of concealment.” Prasil 2009
