MUNDUS

MUNDUS is Latin for World and I first made a version of the piece in 2006 after attending a Climate Change conference at the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). 

After three days of lectures by eminent scientists and activists I was in deep shock and entered a period of mourning. I had heard of Global Warming of course, but as I looked at graph after graph I wondered how I could continue to work as an artist; MUNDUS and associated works were the result.

MUNDUS was installed at St James’s Church, Piccadilly. London in April 2019 to mark Earth Day as Extinction Rebellion XR were protesting in nearby Piccadilly Circus.

It was made directly on the wall of the side-chapel as a temporary reredos and is made from wood-ash (an ancient symbol associated with mourning and penitence) adhered to the wall with water from the River Thames and honey (a substance with healing properties).

CENSING

Censing. Sara Mark 2017

Gilded Steel, incense, charcoal, stainless steel, wire and fixings.

800mm diameter

The censer is inspired by the giant gilded ‘thurible’ or incense burner that swings spectacularly over the heads of pilgrims gathered in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at the end of the Camino de Compostela.

Known as the ‘Botofumerio’, it takes 5 men to haul it up into position and carries a load of 20kg of incense and charcoal.

This much smaller version is made of forged gilded-steel and has been installed in several locations during 2017, including All Saints West Dulwich and St James’s Church Piccadilly, London.