ON A PLATE

Shall I serve you?

On A Plate, 2017-2018
Marble, concrete, carbon fibre, resin, aluminium, wood and paint
Unique work
H10 x W300 x D30cm
© Mark Humphrey

“ON A PLATE IS INSPIRED BY RUDYARD KIPLING’S POEM MY BOY JACK, REFLECTING ON THE UNCERTAINTY AND LOSS EXPERIENCED BY THOSE LEFT BEHIND BY WAR. BROKEN HEADS FROM THE EVERY ONE REMEMBERED STATUETTE ARE LAID BARE ACROSS FLESH-LIKE MARBLE VESSELS, EACH BEARING THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF CONFLICT. THE ELEVEN PARTS REFER TO THE END OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, AT THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH IN 1918, CONNECTING THE WORK TO REMEMBRANCE AND THE LIVES LOST IN ALL WARS.

THE HEADS APPEAR EXPOSED AND FRAGILE, DISPLAYED LIKE EXHIBITS OF DESTRUCTION. THEIR DAMAGED FACES REVEAL THE DEVASTATION, HORROR AND PAIN OF BATTLE, WHILE WAVES OF JET-BLACK CARBON RUN BENEATH AND AROUND THEM, EVOKING BATTLEFIELD OIL AND DEBRIS WASHING ONTO THE SHORES OF BRITAIN.

THE FAMILIAR EXPRESSION ‘ON A PLATE’ CARRIES A DEEPER MEANING. TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING ON A PLATE SUGGESTS THAT IT HAS BEEN PROVIDED EFFORTLESSLY, READILY AVAILABLE AND THERE FOR THE TAKING. IN THIS WORK, THE PLATE ALSO BECOMES A VESSEL FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR – ITS DESTRUCTION, ITS CASUALTIES AND THE HUMAN COST CARRIED HOME.”

Mark Humphrey