FLYING CARPET
How high can we fly?
Flying Carpet, 2010-2011
Marble
Unique work (121 signed engraved tiles)
H300 x W400 x D3cm
© Mark Humphrey
CLIENT
Shizaru gallery
LOCATION
Mount Street, Mayfair, London, UK
“FLYING CARPET TRANSFORMS AN ANCIENT MOTIF INTO A CONTEMPORARY FLOOR INSTALLATION. CONSTRUCTED FROM SOLID MARBLE WITH INLAYS OF MACHINED BLACK MARBLE, THE WORK COMPRISES 121 INDIVIDUAL TILES, EACH CARRYING A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF TRADITIONAL KOREAN BIRD MOTIFS.
THE BIRDS APPEAR TO MOVE ACROSS THE SURFACE, CREATING A SENSE OF FLIGHT, SPEED AND MOVEMENT THROUGH THE AIR. THEIR REPEATED FORMS TRANSFORM THE FLOOR INTO SOMETHING THAT FEELS ALMOST WEIGHTLESS – A CARPET THAT APPEARS TO LIFT THE IMAGINATION BEYOND THE GROUND.
THE WORK REINTERPRETS THE TRADITIONAL FLYING CARPET THROUGH THE PERMANENCE AND PRECISION OF MARBLE. WHAT WAS ONCE A RICHLY TEXTURED SILK RUG BECOMES AN INLAID ARCHITECTURAL SURFACE, COMBINING AN ANCIENT DECORATIVE LANGUAGE WITH CONTEMPORARY CRAFTSMANSHIP.
THE FLYING BIRD BECOMES A METAPHOR FOR AMBITION, ASPIRATION AND POSSIBILITY. IT REPRESENTS THE DESIRE TO RISE ABOVE, REACH FURTHER AND PURSUE DREAMS WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE THEY MAY LEAD. THE SKY BECOMES THE ULTIMATE HORIZON – SEEMINGLY WITHOUT LIMITS. THE WORK INVITES US TO LOOK BEYOND WHERE WE ARE STANDING AND IMAGINE WHERE WE CAN GO.”
Mark Humphrey
“MARK’S WORLD IS LIKE STEPPING INTO A PLACE WHERE DA VINCI MEETS JAMES BOND.”
Shizaru Gallery
Mayfair
