David Peacock – whose retrospective shows at Northumberland Street's Gallery on the Corner until 26 February – was born on 28 October 1945 and diagnosed with autism at about the age of 12.[img_assist|nid=1547|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=453|height=640]
Brief biographical details provided by his family say that he '... attended school and lived at a psychiatric hospital. He was good at individual sporting pursuits such as walking, swimming, trampolining and riding.
'As an adult he attended occupational therapy classes where his artistic ability became obvious. The encouragement and patience of his teachers was a major influence on his growing maturity and distinctive style ...'
The acrylics now on show in Broughton date from the 1980s, when his style featured portrait-shaped canvases with bold, horizontal bands of colour.
It is hard to tell whether these (mostly untitled) works are purely abstract, or whether there are occasionally deliberate attempts to suggest depth. Certainly, this reviewer found himself reminded of vivid hills and blustery seascapes, of skies full of tumultuous clouds.
It is in the boundaries between the horizontal bands that much of Peacock's 'action' occurs: the vigorous transition from one to another, the mysterious interposition of shapes. Are they birds, angels, dragons, or simply sensuous and abstractly pleasing gouts of colour?
'David,' the biographical notes conclude, 'is illiterate, does not speak, but he understands well.' Herein lies much of the challenge and the charm of Peacock's images. One must take them as they come, without hope of a fixed, contextualising interpretation. What certainly is clear, however, is that though he does not speak, another kind of voice – animated and articulate – is surging through his painted strokes. AM
Gallery on the Corner is at 34 Northumberland Street. Opening hours: Tues.–Sat., 10:30am–6:00pm.