The Open Door (Alice In Wonderland) - Original
- ‘The Open Door’ is my interpretation of the adventures of Alice in her wonderland. It’s driven by mental health. I will always do my research into each subject and that is what resonated with me with the links to the mental health side to the original story. The insecurities that Alice faced, being scared of adults etc. That was the driving force behind this piece. Everyone is touched by mental health in so many different ways and with so many different outcomes and contributing factors.
For me what is so interesting is what do you see when you stand there looking into that scene? Do you see an enchanted forest with the light trying to push through the fog or are you actually under water? Are they reeds and weeds with the jelly fish etc.? What I’ve done is try to trick you because I didn’t just want this to become a ‘Tim Burton’ type piece, there are parallels to my work and that’s why I love his films. The Jelly fish are there instead of toadstools, you can see the similarities with their shape but for me it was the idea of them swaying, with everything moving. That’s the idea when you’re in that state of mind and things are so intense and almost giddy, everything starts to sway, it becomes too much, a bit surreal. Or you can just look at it like you’re off your head! How do you interpret it?
Everything is littered out around you, the pressures that you face that will help you fall down. Like the drink, the oversized macaroon, they’re all symbolic. The mirror links to my ‘Snow White’ piece from this collection. It’s what you see looking back at you. ‘You’re too small’, ‘I’m too big’, ‘I’m mad’. It’s these things that you’re either told or tell yourself. Another link with that piece is that my concept with the ‘Queen of Hearts’ is actually Alice, that it’s a split personality. It’s her darkness that is trying to push her back down that rabbit hole and keep her there. It’s just me trying to put my take on it.
The door being central is key, the door to reality. It just shows how close that is to wherever you are and however far down you are. It’s how easy it is to fall back down. Amongst all of the darkness there is this lovely detail like the butterflies that I use so much to represent being free that are coming out from the shadows and rising up. There is so much to seek out and interpret, what does this picture mean to you?
I’ve loved creating this piece, it’s the widest scene that I’ve done and that’s for a reason. If you imagine when you are stood there, as I put you in the position of every ‘Storyteller’ piece, it’s how much you can take in that is in your line of vision. The key message is no matter how far down you are, how far gone you think you are; this sense of hope and help is always there, and nothing is ever truly impassable.
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- Released: 2021
- Collection: Storyteller
- Edition Size: 1 of 1
- Specification: Embellished canvas with bespoke frame
- Image Size: 75” x 36"
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"