Peter Ivancovich | Natural/Wonder, Solo Exhibition

Please join us Saturday October 20th from 6-10pm for the opening of Peter Ivancovich’s first solo show “Natural/Wonder” at Fabrik Projects in Culver City. Ivancovich’s 20-year career in Landscape Design informs his interest in the contrasting beauty/ephemerality of the floral world. His experiences as a gay man in contemporary Los Angeles and his unique color sense inform his work and graphic sensibility.

Ivancovich’s photographic series "Natural /Wonder" is inspired by 17th Century Dutch still life paintings created by master’s such as Balthazar Van der Ast and Jacob Vosmaer. Ivancovich updates the backgrounds, color palettes and contexts to reflect the heightened sexuality of modern life while retaining the original works connection to the fleetingness of existence and the excess of conspicuous consumption. 

Through the use of fresh cut and faux flowers, real insects, butterflies and colorful "natural death" taxidermy birds, Ivancovich creates his own sensual world. The glamour of fashion, frisson of sexuality and joy of obsessive collecting are represented in a cabinet of curiosities fit for modern times. As in the original inspiration paintings, items depicted can be seen to represent different things. For instance, fallen flower petals might symbolize decay and snakes and spiders the danger inherent in life.

The large scale and bright colors of his work are meant to capture the viewers’ attention and encourage them to look closer to see smaller details hidden within. Ivancovich creates a sense of magic realism by using real objects along with digital manipulation to play with size and color.