BREAK A LEG

How much strain can we take?

Break A Leg, 2002 & 2026
Glass, stainless steel, rope and knife
Unique work
H95 x Dia130cm (table)
H75 x W45 x D50cm (chairs each)
© Mark Humphrey

“BREAK A LEG TRANSFORMS THE DINING TABLE INTO A WEB OF TIES, CONFLICT AND SUPPORT. RED ROPE CONNECTS THE TABLE AND CHAIRS THROUGH A NETWORK OF STRANDS, WHILE A SPIDER WEB CARVED INTO THE GLASS REPRESENTS THE FRAGILE AND SOMETIMES TANGLED WEB OF LIFE. A MACHINED STAINLESS-STEEL LEG APPEARS TO CUT, PIERCE AND TOPPLE ONE CHAIR, EMBODYING SEPARATION, DISRUPTION AND VULNERABILITY.

THE TITLE CARRIES ITS OWN CONTRADICTION: ‘BREAK A LEG’ IS TRADITIONALLY SAID TO WISH SOMEONE GOOD LUCK, YET HERE A BROKEN CHAIR BECOMES A STATEMENT ABOUT THE PRESSURE PEOPLE CAN ENDURE. WE CAN TURN AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, PULL EACH OTHER APART AND STILL COME TOGETHER WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS SUPPORT.”

Mark Humphrey