HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW
Can gold buy survival?
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Grazing Pastures Of Golden Blades), 2011-2013
Marble and bronze
Unique work
H170 x W400 x D150cm
© Mark Humphrey
COLLABORATOR
Pietrasanta Cultural Institute
“HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW (GRAZING PASTURES OF GOLDEN BLADES) PRESENTS A MARBLE RHINO STANDING WITHIN A VAST FIELD OF GOLDEN KNIVES. THE ANIMAL APPEARS MONUMENTAL AND EVERLASTING, LIKE AN ANCIENT STONE STATUE FROM A CIVILISATION LONG GONE, ELEVATED ABOVE THE LANDSCAPE AS A SYMBOL OF TIMELESS STRENGTH AND PERMANENCE.
YET THE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING IT HAS BECOME SOMETHING FAR MORE SINISTER. WHAT MIGHT APPEAR TO BE GOLDEN GRASS IS FORMED FROM BLADES – SIMULTANEOUSLY EVOKING THE GRAZING LANDSCAPE ON WHICH THE RHINO DEPENDS, THE PRECIOUS METAL THAT GIVES THE ANIMAL ITS VALUE, AND THE KNIVES USED TO DESTROY IT. GOLD BECOMES BOTH BEAUTY AND GREED; THE PASTURE BECOMES BOTH HABITAT AND A KILLING FIELD.
THE RHINO HAS BECOME A MONUMENT TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF HUMAN GREED. ITS HORN, SOUGHT FOR ITS RICHES, HAS MADE THE ANIMAL VULNERABLE TO THOSE WHO PLACE GREATER VALUE ON WHAT IT POSSESSES THAN ON ITS SURVIVAL. THE WORK CONFRONTS THE PARADOX OF A SPECIES MADE MORE PRECIOUS BY THE VERY THING THAT THREATENS ITS EXISTENCE.”
Mark Humphrey
