CONE OF DIAMONDS
What price do we pay?
Cone Of Diamonds, 2008-2009
Rock crystal and marble
Unique work
H80 x Dia30cm
© Mark Humphrey
COLLABORATORS
Jumeirah
Osborne Samuel gallery
Pietrasanta Cultural Institute
LOCATION
Park Lane, Mayfair, London, UK
“CONE OF DIAMONDS IS A TABLE LAMP HAND-CRAFTED FROM ROCK CRYSTAL AND MARBLE. ITS FACETED LAMPSHADE RECALLS A GIANT DIAMOND, ILLUMINATED FROM WITHIN TO CREATE AN OBJECT THAT APPEARS PRECIOUS AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE. SET AGAINST THE DARK MARBLE BASE, THE GLOWING CRYSTAL BECOMES A PHYSICAL EXPRESSION OF THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH AND OPULENCE.
THE WORK EXPLORES THE VALUE WE PLACE ON POSSESSIONS AND PRESTIGE. THE DIAMOND HAS BECOME A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF SUCCESS AND MARRIAGE – SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST FOREVER. HERE, THAT DESIRE IS GIVEN FORM THROUGH AN OBJECT WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO ILLUMINATE, TURNING THE PURSUIT OF STATUS INTO A SOURCE OF LIGHT.
YET BENEATH ITS RADIANCE LIES A DARKER SIDE: THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE PURSUIT OF RICHES, OUR WELLBEING, OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS. THE GLOWING LAMPSHADE DRAWS US TOWARDS ITS BEAUTY AND DESIRABILITY, WHILE THE DARK LAMP BASE SUGGESTS WHAT MAY LIE BENEATH THE OBSESSION WITH LUXURY.”
Mark Humphrey
