WASHING IN JEWELS

Do we wash our hands?

Washing In Jewels, 2008
Onyx, composite and stainless steel
Unique works (set of 3)
1,500 square feet
© Mark Humphrey

CLIENT
Jalouse

AWARD
London club and bar award

LOCATION
Mayfair, London, UK

“WASHING IN JEWELS TRANSFORMS WASHBASINS INTO OBJECTS OF EXTRAORDINARY LUXURY. HAND-CRAFTED FROM ONYX AND MARBLE, EACH BASIN IS ILLUMINATED FROM WITHIN, GLOWING LIKE A PRECIOUS JEWEL – DIAMONDS, RUBIES, SAPPHIRES AND EMERALDS. YET THEIR ORGANIC, FIGURATIVE FORMS ARE DELIBERATELY UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL CUT GEMSTONES, SUGGESTING THE CONTOURS AND PRESENCE OF THE HUMAN BODY. WHAT IS NORMALLY A UBIQUITOUS PRODUCT BECOMES A STATEMENT OF BEAUTY, WEALTH, STATUS AND SUCCESS.

THE WORK REFLECTS OUR DESIRE FOR LUXURY GOODS AND THE VALUE WE PLACE UPON RARITY, QUALITY AND PRESTIGE. THE BASINS BECOME OBJECTS TO ADMIRE AND DISPLAY, SUGGESTING HOW POSSESSIONS CAN BECOME MEASURES OF SUCCESS AND WAYS OF ELEVATING OURSELVES IN THE EYES OF OTHERS. BUT BENEATH THEIR JEWEL-LIKE APPEARANCE IS SOMETHING MORE HUMAN – A REMINDER THAT OUR GREATEST VALUE CANNOT BE MEASURED IN PRECIOUS MATERIALS OR POSSESSIONS.

YET THE BASINS INTRODUCE ANOTHER MEANING. TO ‘WASH YOUR HANDS OF IT’ IS TO DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM RESPONSIBILITY. HERE, WASHING OUR HANDS BECOMES A METAPHOR FOR WASHING AWAY THE PURSUIT OF STATUS AND MATERIAL WEALTH, AND RECONSIDERING WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN LIFE.

BEYOND THE JEWELS, THE WORK ASKS US TO THINK ABOUT LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, INTEGRITY, HONOUR AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OTHERS. THE BASIN BECOMES MORE THAN SOMEWHERE TO WASH – IT BECOMES A PLACE TO CONSIDER WHAT WE CHOOSE TO VALUE, AND WHAT WE ARE PREPARED TO WASH OUR HANDS OF.”

Mark Humphrey

“HUMPHREY’S PIECES ARE WORKS OF ART.”

Evening Standard

“HIS VISION AND COMMITMENT TO DESIGN ARE BASED ON PRODUCTS THAT APPEAR NOT AS FURNITURE BUT AS INDIVIDUAL AND ORIGINAL FUNCTIONAL ART.”

Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Design magazine