BLOODBATH

Can the blood of ethnic cleansing ever be washed away?

Bloodbath, 2002 & 2025
Brass, teak, agate, blood and oil
Unique work
H180 x W88 x D58cm
© Mark Humphrey

“BLOODBATH PLACES A BATH FILLED WITH BLOOD AT THE CENTRE OF A WORK CONFRONTING THE HUMAN COST OF WAR AND ETHNIC CLEANSING. DRAWING ON THE GRANDEUR OF ANCIENT EGYPT, GOLDEN BRASS, PRECIOUS AGATE AND TEAK EVOKE THE OPULENCE OF AN EMPIRE. SHAPED AS A VESSEL, THE BATH ALSO RECALLS THE WOODEN SHIPS THAT CARRIED CONFLICT THROUGH THE AGES.

AN OBJECT ASSOCIATED WITH LUXURY AND CLEANSING BECOMES FILLED WITH BLOOD, FLOATING ON A SEA OF OIL – A RESOURCE FOUGHT OVER FOR POWER, WEALTH AND FUEL. TOGETHER, THEY BECOME A BRUTAL REMINDER OF WHAT HUMANITY IS PREPARED TO DESTROY IN THE PURSUIT OF DOMINATION.”

Mark Humphrey