The Beast From The East (Mary Poppins) - Original
- I have created a number of pieces to date inspired by the film and shows how I have come at it from a very different angle, suggesting that there was a relationship between Mary and Bert and playing out the reality of that across a number of very, very different pieces for clients. You might remember the 'Cast Off Your Shackles piece from last year but won't have seen 2 other pieces that I will post up, this being the first.
Mary Poppins is a classic film where it cleverly masks over the underlying darkness of the plot and some of the characters, no one more than Mary herself. The two main areas I wanted to look at where Marys’ character and also her relationship and possibly history with Bert. As quirky and surreal as Mary Poppins is, with all of her spells, singing to birds and flying about under an umbrella there is a very strong dominating quality and power that she portrays over a good number of the characters so she gets what she wants, gets the job done. When you then hold that thought and re watch the film it really does come to light and you see Mary in a completely different light, you really can’t get away from it.
The 2 characters of Mary and Bert are polar opposites in terms of class and character yet they have such a bond and if you take the line in the story where Bert says it’s 'nice to see you again Mary Poppins’ then we have something, they have history, why? There is another factor in that she appears when needed and heads back when the wind changes, the fact that she isn’t settled is something else that I have looked at.
So Paula Abdul said opposites attract, she did well for herself so I’m running with it. I have created a piece based on the theory that Mary Poppins and Bert have a lust that burns and a very dark secret that they play out up on the roof where they don’t have to dodge anything, apart from the odd cannonball. Mary Poppins takes on the dark, dominatrix character and Bert the submissive, innocent ‘English’ gent that he is.
The innocence of love, in their eyes what they do is not sordid or wrong, it’s beautiful, it is purely their characters playing out. This is what I have set out to achieve in the overriding feel of the piece and how people interact with it, to create something that is ultimately beautiful and intricate to the point where it dilutes the harshness of what they are doing up there. So rather than putting it in your face it is subtly hidden, just like they try to do. I also wanted to achieve a sense of movement in the piece to convey the changing wind direction and Mary coming in and going away.
The scene is set on one of the most iconic places of the story, the roof terrace, looking out over London with the billowing chimneys and St Pauls on the horizon. The strong sky, shadows and warm skylights were qualities that I picked up on from the film and have used them as key parts of the piece. The rooftop is littered with objects that tell of their explosive liasons, some clear, some subtle that are picked up on from tiny references within the narrative. The wind is blowing in from the east, Mary is here. With the wind, a darkness blows in with it, shown from the pollution coming from the chimney (hyper exaggerated in its force to reference the damaging affects of pollution). The weathervane points West and has been chained down by Bert in an attempt to trick his love to not realising the wind has changed and to keep her with him, conveying his innocence. -
- Released: 2016
- Collection: Storyteller
- Specification: 1 of 1 original framed embellished canvas, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 48” x 36"
- Framed Size: 54” x 41"
Commissions
When workload allows Mark embraces client commissions and has enjoyed amazing success to date. If you have been inspired by the work that you have seen and have a specific idea or simply a seed then please do get in touch.
Commission EnquiriesRelated Items
'Freddy's Coming For You!' - Freddy Krueger Claw Statement Piece
£795.00
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Gepetto he is not, but this carved wooden plinth displays the stuff of nightmares!
This intoxicating piece is the first offering to sit within his 'Against The Grain' series, a body of work that will grow over time and represents Mark's intention to continue to do things differently. Mark has built up an incredible reputation for the level of craft that shines through his unique frames, and it is these details that you now see in this piece.
Everything about this is unique, from Mark hand selecting the piece of Elm at a local timber mill through to carving the claw marks that are soaked in blood red resin. No two will, or can be the same. What starts with a beautiful (and innocent!) piece of Elm, is then stained, blackened, bashed and burnt. The haunting Freddy Claw glove has it's metal blades set into the blood resin channels and is then subjected to the same level of customisation as the plinth.
Limited to what will be just 20 original variations and priced incredibly well considering the level of craftsmanship and hours needed to create each piece. This is something that needs to be seen close up to be truly appreciated, but how close do you dare get to that glove?!
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- Released: 2022
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood
- Edition Size: 20 Original Variations
- Specification:
- Hand selected locally sourced Elm (obviously!)
- Hand carved claw marks filled with blood red resin
- Blackened and burned
- Metal bladed claw glove
- Title and number plaque
- Hand signed by artist - Plinth Size (Approx): 19” x 9.5”
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
'Grab Your Stick!' - Proton Wand Statement Piece
£995.00
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Now this is for the true obsessive GB fans! Whether you call it a Particle Thrower, Proton Blaster, Proton Gun, Positron Collider, Neutrona Wand, or Proton Wand, the result is the same! This piece looks like it’s been in a real battle and got slimed and fried AF!
I’m always striving to mix things up and look at ways of introducing my art in new formats and connecting with my collectors. Halloween 2022 saw me release something very different, and bloody dark! My Nightmare on Elm Street Claw plinth was the first piece that I have done that broke away from the traditional print editions and I loved every moment of it, and it has been so well received. It was a signal of my intentions to keep pushing and to deliver pieces that were true to my style but working with movie props to create something unique and special, whilst remaining true to my style of work. The aim was to offer a supporting piece that would complement a traditional print edition.So, my ‘RETROPLASM’ series has given me the opportunity to build on this and do something much less dark, although I couldn’t resist getting the blow torch out! ‘Grab Your Stick’ has transformed one of the coolest movie props that there has even been and made it, well I guess, funkier, and that’s before you turn the lights off – yep, the resin base glows in the dark whilst the neon paint also comes alive under lairy coloured light.
You are free to grab your stick, flick the switches and fire the sucker up! It will slam you right back to your childhood, just don’t cross the streams! Why not? Put simply, coz it’s bad, very bad! If you’re fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing, then maybe this will help. Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Oh, but don’t stress too much, batteries are included!
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- Released: 2023
- Collection: RETROPLASM
- Edition Size: 20 Original Variations
- Specification:
- Light up LED, sound effects and vibrations
- Blackened and burned
- Small parts to connect the stand to the wand - fragile - handle with care.
- Hand signed by artist - Baseh Size (Approx): 23.5” x 8”
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
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88 & Out - Original
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- Released: 2019
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood 2
- Specification: 1 of 1 original framed embellished canvas, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 48” x 36"
- Framed Size: 54” x 41"