DANCING WITH JOY

Shall I open a door?

Dancing With Joy, 2002 & 2026
Eglomise mirror, walnut and stainless steel
Unique work (set of 17 doors)
H240 x W1020 x D10cm
© Mark Humphrey

“DANCING WITH JOY TRANSFORMS A SET OF CABINET DOORS INTO A CONFRONTATION WITH THE MANY FORMS OF HUMAN ABUSE AND OPPRESSION. EGLOMISE MIRROR DOORS REVEAL FEMALE FIGURES WITHOUT CLOTHING, DELIBERATELY BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN VULNERABILITY AND FREEDOM: ARE THEY VICTIMS STRIPPED OF THEIR CHOICES AND CONTROL, OR WOMEN LIBERATED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES WITHOUT SHAME? EACH PORTRAIT OCCUPIES ITS OWN DOOR, YET CHAINS CONNECT THEM, BINDING INDIVIDUAL LIVES THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCE.

THE MIRRORED SURFACES DRAW THE VIEWER INTO THE WORK, REFLECTING OURSELVES BACK THROUGH THE FIGURES AND INVITING US TO CONSIDER OUR OWN RESTRICTIONS AND PURSUIT OF FREEDOM. ONE PORTRAIT BREAKS FREE AS A DOOR OPENS, WHILE CRACKS ACROSS THE MIRRORS REVEAL THE IMPERFECTIONS AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE LIVES WE LEAD. WHAT BEGINS AS A SERIES OF CLOSED DOORS BECOMES A TENSION BETWEEN FEAR AND HOPE, DOUBT AND DREAMS, CONFINEMENT AND FREEDOM.”

Mark Humphrey