Peter Arkle

Artist Statement

Title: Trying to Catch the Straw

When wandering around I sometimes am lucky enough to see odd little poetic, funny or weird things happening––things that usually only happen for a very short time. I like to take these things and capture them and preserve them as animated GIFS––little PIECES of TIME, endlessly repeating.

In this case I was walking along Houston Street in the East Village one day when I saw a construction foreman staring into space, lost in his thoughts, trying to find his straw with his tongue (his free hand was holding his laptop). I wonder what he was thinking? Was his construction project behind schedule? Was he deciding where to go for a vacation? Or was he just annoyed? Where has that straw got to?

“Damn it, I just want to be sipping my iced coffee! This is my favorite part of the day. I deserve to enjoy this.”

About the Artist

Peter Arkle lives in New York City, where he’s a freelance illustrator of books, magazines, newspapers and ads. He occasionally publishes a newspaper, PETER ARKLE NEWS, containing stories and drawings about the details of everyday life––where most of the inspiration for his work comes from.

Find Peter Website.

View on Opensea here.

Contact us at letters@time.com.