WAR GAMES

Does war end in checkmate or stalemate? 

War Games, 2016 & 2026
Bronze, steel, coal and mud
Unique work (set of 32)
H55 x W40 x D40cm (each)
H65 x W400 x D400cm (overall)
© Mark Humphrey

“WAR GAMES PLAYS ON THE ANCIENT GAME OF CHESS AND THE EQUALLY ENDURING NATURE OF WAR. CRACKED HEADS WITH EYES CLOSED, CAST FROM THE EVERY ONE REMEMBERED MOULDS, FACE ONE ANOTHER ACROSS A CHESSBOARD OF MUD AND COAL, REPRESENTING THE LAND AND FUEL FOUGHT OVER THROUGH THE AGES. GOLDEN BRONZE EVOKES WEALTH AND STATUS, WHILE BRUSHED STEEL REFLECTS THE ARMOUR AND MACHINERY OF WAR.

THE OPPOSING MATERIALS AND FORMS EMBODY THE DOUBLE MEANING OF POWER: THE FUEL THAT DRIVES CONQUEST AND THE WEALTH, CONTROL AND DOMINATION IT SEEKS. SCARRED AND EYES CLOSED, BOTH SIDES BEAR THE SACRIFICE AND DAMAGE OF CONFLICT – WOUNDS CARRIED IN BODY AND MIND, THE BLINDNESS OF THOSE WHO WAGE IT, AND THE FINALITY OF THOSE WHO DO NOT RETURN.”

Mark Humphrey