SLEEPING GODDESS

If death makes us equal, why does life divide us?

Sleeping Goddess, 2008 & 2026
Onyx, glass and mud
Unique work
H200 x W70 x D40cm (floor lamp)
H100 x W250 x D150cm (overall)
© Mark Humphrey

“SLEEPING GODDESS PRESENTS A FLOOR LAMP CARVED IN PRECIOUS ONYX, LYING IN CRACKED EARTH. ITS POLISHED, STATUESQUE FORM RECALLS THE BEAUTY AND PERFECTION OF YOUTH, WHILE ITS WEATHERED APPEARANCE, CRACKS, CHIPS AND IMPERFECTIONS SUGGEST THE PASSAGE OF TIME AND THE AGEING BODY.

LIGHT FLICKERS FROM WITHIN LIKE A BEATING HEART, PULSATING BETWEEN REST AND DEATH, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT MAY COME AFTER. ENCASED WITHIN GLASS, THE SARCOPHAGUS OF DREAMS MAKES THE FIGURE BOTH VISIBLE AND UNREACHABLE – SUSPENDED BETWEEN WORLDS. THE TRANSLUCENT ENCLOSURE BRINGS TOGETHER THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE AND THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH, QUESTIONING WHETHER THE DISTINCTIONS WE CREATE IN LIFE HAVE ANY MEANING WHEN, IN DEATH, WE ALL RETURN TO THE SAME GROUND.”

Mark Humphrey