Eric Abaka ( aka Martin Peeves)
Photo credit: Eric Abaka | PeevesPLAYHaus, AIR, Painted Bride, 2018-22
Eric Abaka, also known by his stage name Martin Peeves, is an artist & educator of Ghanaian heritage who lives and works between Accra, Ghana and Philadelphia, U.S.A. Eric has a BA in Arts Management and an MFA in Studio Arts ,respectively from Luther College and the University of the Arts.
As an educator he has worked with diverse populations, including community members, primary & secondary school students, individuals experiencing homelessness and adults with mental, physical or behavioral health challenges - teaching, guiding, mentoring and encouraging people to develop their creative skills & expression. Presently he is a Teaching Artist at Center for Creative Works, Philadelphia U.S.A assisting & supporting neurodiverse adults develop their artistic practice.
As an artist, Martin engages in a wide range of interdisciplinary practices including Drawing, Painting, Installation, Performance, Video & Sound Art, Music and Fashion. Martin’s works across various mediums juxtaposes and incorporates his subjective experience as an African interfacing with western culture. Themes in his works explore and interpret this multifaceted reality of assimilation.
PRACTICE STATEMENT
Martin’s approach to Art is founded on the practice of Art-making evolving out of the persistent engagement in the habitual discipline of conscious creative activity where one being totally absorbed and consumed with the interplay and manipulation of objects or events in one’s space by applying sensitivity, observation, creative skills, improvisation and measure - in an exploration of the unknown. Any resolvings or resolutions arriving from/during such endeavors are what constitutes Artworks. To this, according to Peeves, the “Artwork-in-progress” or “Art-working-progress” of the creative process holds prime significance than a resulting Art-object culminating from such endeavors.
Peeves has no restrictions, set standards or limitations during the flow of creativity; anything, situation, event or phenomenon is a potential source of inspiration - as an object of engaging interest.
Martin is influenced by literary discussions and theories on topics including Postmodernism, critique of the everyday, Digimodernism, neuroscience, Neo-Africanism, Psychology of Art & the Neo-Colonism of Contemporary Art.