HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE

When is it time?

Hanging On For Dear Life, 2012
Stainless steel
Unique work
H60 x W35 x D18cm
© Mark Humphrey

COLLABORATOR
Osbourne Samuel gallery

CHARITY
Prostate Cancer UK

DEDICATION
10 Downing Street

LOCATION
Mayfair, London, UK

“HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE IS HANDCRAFTED IN STAINLESS STEEL AND POLISHED TO A MIRROR FINISH, ITS REFLECTIVE SURFACE DRAWING THE VIEWER BACK INTO THE WORK. SUSPENDED FROM A STEEL CABLE, THE BLADE-LIKE SCULPTURE RESEMBLES BOTH A MEDICAL INSTRUMENT AND A WEAPON – SOMETHING CAPABLE OF SAVING LIFE OR THREATENING IT.

THE WORK WAS CREATED TO ENCOURAGE MEN TO HAVE THEIR PROSTATE CHECKED. ITS SURGICAL APPEARANCE BRINGS THE EXPERIENCE OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT INTO PHYSICAL FORM, WHILE THE SHARPENED, KNIFE-LIKE POINT CREATES A SENSE OF DANGER AND URGENCY. THE FAMILIAR EXPRESSION ‘HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE’ TAKES ON A LITERAL DIMENSION AS THE SCULPTURE HANGS PRECARIOUSLY IN SPACE.

SUSPENDED LIKE A PENDULUM, THE FIGURE BECOMES A MEASURE OF TIME. THE LONGER IT HANGS, THE MORE THE SENSE OF WAITING BECOMES CHARGED WITH CONSEQUENCE. TIME CAN BE ON OUR SIDE, BUT IT CAN ALSO WORK AGAINST US.”

Mark Humphrey