Phoenix – “From The Ashes” The Iron Clocks

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Phoenix “From The Ashes” – a unique creation story in the artist’s own words.

I always smile when I think back to the making of this Iron Clock. gallerypheonixlarge

It was only the second clock in this series, so all the challenges of creating my first Iron Clock were fresh in my mind. I had sketched out some ideas of how to realise this new creation – and I hoped that these notes would save me repeating previous mistakes.

Mid-summer heat drove me outside to work. It can get impossibly hot inside my workshop, especially when I’m shaping metal. Without thinking, I placed my sketches close by so that I could glance at them from time to time.

Of course, it was only a matter of time before welding sparks flew onto the pages, and the whole lot went up in flames. I moved fast, stamping on the papers in an attempt to save what I could. They ended up completely charred!

Luckily, I don’t rely very heavily on my sketches. In fact, I can’t draw properly to save my life. Somehow, working in three dimensions comes naturally to me. Each piece really does take shape in my hands.

Finally, I completed this, my second Iron Clock. I get tremendous pleasure from adding my name to the face and the back of the clock, and finally hand polishing my completed work before I eventually say goodbye.

- Mark Avis

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2 comments for this entry:
  1. AB
    April 1st, 2009 on 10:18 am

    ‘Gorgeously Gothic’
    (AB, Brighton)

  2. Vimmi
    September 12th, 2009 on 6:24 pm

    I was wondering how tall this clock stands, and what year you made it in? Does this one belong to gallery yet?
    anyway I think this is probably my favourite one, although I do like the looks of cronus, I cant see what the majority looks like :)
    anyway good job.

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Time is an Abstract Concept

Born in 1966, Mark is a contemporary artist, based in Newark, Nottinghamshire, who designs inspirational clocks made from steel. Influenced by Gaudi and Spanish surrealist, Dali, Mark began to conceive an image of a melting clock, created from iron, but sculpted to large proportions. His first Iron Clock in the series, known as 'Gaia', was completed nearly four years ago.

Mark has produced a series of six sculptures to date, which have attracted tremendous interest and critical acclaim. Each sculpture is original, shaped with distinctive markings that, when viewed as a whole, represent what Mark refers to as 'a human form fitting the proportions of people'.

With each Iron Clock, Mark has distorted the notion of time by creating an incredible melting effect that is both visually arresting and technically superb. As the series has progressed, Mark's artistic vision has become increasingly complex, inviting different interpretations as more intricate detail is added. This creates additional depth and dimension to each new sculpture, that further disrupts our traditional concept of time as each Iron Clock tells its own individual story.

Fragmentation contrasts sharply with fluidity in his latest creation 'Cronus', where the juxtaposition of time and nature are beautifully realised.

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