Anthropology of Memory
Edward Peck
14-30 August, 2026
Fri, Sat & Sun (11 am – 4 pm)
The Cove Gallery
Meet & Greet the Artist – Saturday, 15 August, 2026 (1-3pm)
I once inhabited a city alive with music, art, and ideas—an environment that completely embraced my creative flow. Today, I search for the remnants of that energy. Traveling like an anthropologist, I observe the behaviours and cultural practices of unfamiliar places, contrasting them against my own history. Within foreign landscapes, I often strike an unexpected alignment with memory. It resurrects a place where creativity exploded, life held endless promise, and beauty felt raw and intense. Through these images, I am attempting to convey that stirring. They create a record of that anthropological recognition in the present that unearths the vibrant landscapes of my past.
At the centre of his practice is a fascination with the relationship between built environments and human presence. Markets, cafes, streets, and other everyday settings become sites of observation, where people and places are read together. He is drawn to the way cities hold social energy, atmosphere, and gesture and how these qualities linger long after a scene has passed.
Realism is a key element in his visual work. In my photographs, emphasizing the tactile qualities of brick, tile, foliage, and light. In spaces occupied by human presence, he focuses on the textures, shapes, gestures, and stances giving each figure a strong presence. Muted earth tones often anchor the compositions, while selective accents of colour introduce rhythm, contrast, and narrative detail.
Beneath these formal concerns lies a deeper inquiry into memory, belonging, and transformation. Some works capture the collective vitality of shared urban space, while others turn toward quieter, more solitary moments of reflection. Together, they form a record of present observations, shaped by a longing for human-centric places where creativity, possibility, and beauty once felt especially alive.