GBP
KONG (King Kong) - Standard Limited Edition
- My interpretation of King Kong, the 8th wonder of the world which is inspired by the original 1930s black and white movie. I remember watching the film as a kid and even though the effects are ludicrously bad when you watch it back now it was the whole concept of this huge beast that was kept behind those huge wooden gates, the beating of the drums when a sacrificial offering was given and that moment when you saw him, it is a great film and probably more intense than some of the later versions.
This piece could quite easily have been a jungle based scene piece but I wanted to tackle it in the way that I did with ‘BALBOA’ and focus on the New York city element to truly showcase KONG unleashed on the city through no fault of his own, to show the scale of him and the carnage that followed as a result of mans’ intervention driven by greed.
The piece is inspired by the classic original movie artwork that shows a hugely oversized beast striding forward over the city towards the Empire State building with Ann Darrow in Kongs’ grip. If you look at the face of Kong back then it was kind of odd looking, I have made changes so it is more dramatic and intense and ultimately more intimidating without being too much, I guess in line with how modern film re-makes tend to do with the ‘monster’.
I have used the same smoke and stars detailing that is used in ‘BALBOA’ whilst introducing a looser, more blurred style in places to represent the movement so it isn’t static - for example the woman would have been flailing around not statuesque so the detailing here is quite abstract in places. The cityscape is really gritty and weathered with abstract markings and textures to reflect the period at the time and to create an aged quality as if you are looking at something that was created back then.
What I also like is that it fits nicely within the growing body of work that embraces the ’no such thing as monsters’ concept whilst also having complementing qualities to ‘BALBOA’ without just becoming a re-hash of that particular piece. -
- Released: 2017
- Collection: Through Darkness & Light
- Edition Size: 45 +5AP
- Specification: Limited edition fine art print, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 31” x 23"
- Framed Size (Approx): 34” x 27"
If you fancy something truly unique instead of the black or white frame choices, you can upgrade to a stunning hand painted frame by Mark. You can either specify your choice of style and colours or leave it to Mark to work his magic. Simply add your comments at point of ordering.
A global collector base has seen hundreds of original works sold, making him a respected and successful artist within the contemporary art world.
Mixed Media British Artist Mark Davies was born in Bedfordshire in 1978 and studied Fine Art within the region with his early works being inspired by the compositional qualities of Piero Della Francesca and Giuseppe Arcimboldo whilst finding inspiration in the surrealism of Salvador Dali. Now living in St Neots Mark works full-time as a professional artist as part of the MD Studios set up from his beautiful, converted brick barn studio within the Cambridgeshire countryside.
Mark’s signature ‘Storyteller’ and 'Lost in Hollywood' collections showcase his ability to conceive and implement his own narrative to cherished fairy tales, classic fictional stories, and iconic movies to stunning effect. Inspired by the eloquence of Hans Christian Andersen and ingenuity of the Grimm Brothers, a whole host of much-loved stories have been turned on their head with each chapter being re-written as Mark embraces the often much more sinister plot and motives of the original authors that most don’t know exists as these classics are re-told to generation after generation.
As well as creating mesmerizing imagery full of detail there has always been a subtle and genuine moral quality to the work created to make you think a little deeper. Mark’s original works have created such a wonderful interaction between artist and audience as each searches out the detail and pieces together the plot with the hope that they can get an insight into Mark’s thinking whilst being encouraged to offer their own interpretation of what they see or often don’t see within the image. This genuine engagement has played a significant part in Mark’s gallery shows and appearances being so successful and truly special events.
As the body of work has grown so has Mark’s reputation for creating art with genuine meaning, art that stands on its own and that is driven by a fascinating multi-layered narrative like no other. His skill of storytelling has expanded across other areas including stage and screen as he delivers his signature style across a broad range of subjects and genres that continue to pull on the heart strings and embrace nostalgia and the memories that we all hold so fondly. In addition to building a solid gallery presence, Mark’s success has seen his work proudly displayed and selling within iconic venues that include the London Playhouse and Fortune Theatre within the iconic West End along with the highly respected Mall Galleries in London.
2023 has been another incredible year for Mark as his career continues to evolve. Most noticeably has seen the creation of 'The Hive' - a stunning creative gallery space within his studio that now proudly displays his artwork in a striking and engaging environment that allows his collectors to get up close to a diverse range of artworks. In addition to this, Mark's presence in America has strengthened as the result of a wonderful charity event that saw him create a special original piece that sold for more than $16,000, raising much needed funds and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer's.
With an incredible work ethic and a genuine respect and appreciation for his collectors, combined with a solid platform that the MD Studios brand offers, the future continues to look exciting for Mark. A growing list of celebrity clients and commercial projects along with an established gallery presence has led to Mark being a highly collectable and hugely respected British artist.
