Launch event at : Thursday 21 April 2011,
5 – 7pm

Enjoy a glass of wine and an informal introduction to the work by S. Mark Gubb

A spectacular addition to the skyline of The Hard Interchange will be unveiled this Thursday. Continuing exciting programme of off-site projects, this newly commissioned sculpture by S. Mark Gubb explores the ideas of responsibility, influence, control and personal choice. The work’s form is influenced by Googie architecture, which originated in late 1940s Southern California. At once Las Vegas and Clarence Pier, the sculpture’s imagery, colours and neon lights create a piece which is visually seductive and a joy to behold.

The sword and balloons draw on the tale of ‘The Sword of Damocles’ - a moral anecdote alluding to the cautionary expressions ’be careful what you wish for’ and ’with great power comes great responsibility’.

Central to the work is the inclusion of a changeable sign, of the kind recognisable the world over, used by schools, hotels, sports grounds and diners, equally likely to be offering ’99c Chicken Wings’ as they are to be offering to save our souls. This space, within the work, remains active, in part controlled by the artist and in part handed over to the wider community. A changing series of texts will appear on the sign over the life of the work, some the choice of the artist and others drawn from suggestions made by the public at large.

The title of the sculpture, ‘Trav’ller in the Dark’ is taken from the 18th Century poem ‘The Star’ by Jane Taylor. The opening stanza is widely known as the first verse of the nursery rhyme ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’.

S. Mark Gubb was born in Romsey, Hampshire and now lives and works in Cardiff. He is represented by Ceri Hand Gallery, Liverpool. He has exhibited widely nationally and internationally and is soon to be taking part in the Urra residency programme in Buenos Aires.

www.smarkgubb.com