Mark Gibbs   

 Born  1967 UK

Education: 

1986-87       Chelsea School of Art : Foundation Course in Art and Design;
                 
                 1995-98        Cumbria College of Art and Design: BA Hons Fine Art. First Class Degree

Mark Gibbs recent work has focused on Northern animals; creatures of forest, moor and tundra... some of this work is a reaction to the threat to the Arctic from climate change and other man made issues. 

Images of frozen forest, logging and migrating birds are embedded into an ice-like resin, to form complex, multilayered sculptures, evoking the Arctic. Made by a complex process of; casting, combining different elements, and re-casting, the history of each piece is preserved and revealed like the layers of an ice-core. Each piece can be either; mounted on a plinth, wall mounted, or placed on a window-sill where it's appearance will change with the light.

As unsustainable logging reduces forest cover more sunlight warms the permafrost, bacteria in the now liquid water can decompose the vast amount of organic matter preserved for thousands of years as peat, this process produces huge quantities of methane. Many scientists believe this process has already started and will lead to dramatic climate change.

Price Range
£1300 - £2000

The silver birch is significant because as winter approaches reindeer migrate from arctic tundra into birch forest,  where they eat the bark and lichens. Unsustainable logging in Russia and Scandinavia have reduced the reindeer's winter refuges, while the building of gas pipelines have disrupted migration routes.

European bison [Bison bonasus]  illustrate this 'strength: vulnerability theme well; after surviving the Ice Age the numbers of European bison were reduced to just 12 individuals. The present population of about 3000 live in a forest reserve bordering Poland and Belarus,  all are descended from this tiny genetic pool and so are vulnerable to disease.  'Bison bonasus industricus'  sculptures have microchips embedded in their surface... they are a sort of animal-machine hybrid... the machine, the manmade mediating our experience of nature.  Mark Gibbs 2009
 
             

Recently working with a clear casting resin which imitates ice... the piece 'rEvolution'  contains images of a frozen city... there is a theory that after a brief spell of warming the climate in the Northern Hemisphere will flip into a new Ice Age... so perhaps the animals will have the last laugh.   
Since graduating Mark Gibbs has exhibited Internationally, in London and in the North of England.  

Corporate and Private commission enquiries:   please contact the gallery.

Awards
               
               2008-04
               
               Mark’s studio group; West Walls Artist’s Studios win                the ‘Drawing Inspiration Prize’ at ‘The Big                Draw’ National Drawing Event, for an unprecedented 5 consecutive                years. Prize giving at the National Gallery. Mark has been a member                of West Walls Artist’s Studios since 1998
               
               2000
               
               Northern Arts Small Assistance Award
               
               1996
               
               Shortlisted for a Northern Arts Graduate Award
               
               1995
               
               Stead McAlpine Travel Award

               Corporate Collections
               
               Royal College of Radiologists
               Campbel Luytens and Co Ltd.
               The Mastforce Group.
               The Insight Co Ltd.
               The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad