In Peter Leiss’ current exhibition at the Photographers’ Gallery he leaves the back streets of Footscray’s ‘Romper Stomper’ (PG Feb 1992 for the ‘Main Street’ of the American dream.

These photographs are Peter’s abstract and structuralist interpretations of the silent war of American society as it faces a new epoch of decline. His subtle yet nonetheless potent visual interpretations suggest a malice rooted deeply in the psyche of America’s recent past and present. To the viewer it begs the question, how this world power, world police force, can offer peace and prosperity to anyone with its own house in such chaotic disorder?

Peter. With no malice or sinister political motive, has a viewpoint of an outsider firmly entrenched on the inside. There are no answers or solutions in his narrative but definite road signs clearly stating – this a dead end street, this is a no through road, this is the end of the road.

This exhibition starts with a cup of coffee and then careens down the vacant streets of a society headed for a future that decidedly looks like having all the ingredients necessary for the building of the neo-Babylon.

This is, ‘The Lost Continent’, where Bill Bryson would feel at home.
- William Heimerman
Director The Photographers’ Gallery