Peter Doherty will be exhibiting artworks at Janine Bean and Matthias Bergemann’s gallery on Torstrasse in Berlin-Mitte on September 9th. Among them are works from mixed media, collages, original texts and typewriter art. Objects from his everyday life were also installed.
The exhibition runs under the title “Contain yourself (seriously)” and shows around 50 works by Doherty, who is known among other things for his drug past and his relationship with Kate Moss. According to the gallery owner Janine Bean, the purchase price for the works of art would be between 1,400 and 35,000 euros. His most expensive work is a wall he had cut out of his band Babyshambles’ hotel in the UK town of Margate. The exhibition ends on December 22nd.
Doherty’s art is inspired by music and his drug excesses
His art is primarily inspired by music, such as The Libertines’ “Belly of the Beast”. However, “music is much more complicated,” says the singer. Among other things, Doherty gave new meaning to a promotional poster for a concert in Hong Kong by redesigning it using spray paint. “The poster for the festival was terrible. So I did that in my hotel room,” he said.
Many of his works reflect his past drug struggle. For example, in 2013 he painted the national flag of England with his own blood. He explained: “It had a huge impact on my state of mind at the time. I think without this chaos in my life and without the drugs, the art would be completely different.”
Most recently, Doherty published a book entitled A Likely Lad (2022) which he co-authored with British writer Simon Spence. The album THE FANTASY LIFE OF POETRY & CRIME, which he recorded and produced together with Frédéric Lo, was also released in March of this year. While the Babyshambles haven’t released any new music since “Spit It Out!” (2020), The Libertines presented two live versions of their first single “What a Waster” and “I Get Along” in June 2022. The recordings are from their performance in London on June 3, 2002.
The Libertines live 2022
The Libertines will tour Europe in October. Here are the Germany dates:
26.10.22 in Cologne, Carlswerk Victoria
October 28, 2022 in Hamburg, Edel-Optics.de Arena
03.11.22 in Frankfurt, Zoom
November 8th, 2022 in Munich, Tonhalle
The Libertines were formed in 1997. Their acclaimed debut UP THE BRACKET was released in 2002. The follow-up THE LIBERTINES was released in 2004, after which the band broke up due to a dispute and Doherty’s drug problems. They reunited in 2014, released their comeback album ANTHEMS FOR DOOMED YOUTH in 2015 and have been touring again ever since. A new album is said to be in the works.