Mark Hicken, Man is God, 2017
Mark Hicken uses collage, sculpture, video and performance explore the cultural discussions surrounding the ‘crisis of masculinity’.
'Due to previous exploration into form and shape I began to look at myself as though I were an object. Concluding I was delicate and fragile, I realised that this image did not align with the body my society prescribes for a 22-year-old male. Through the objectification of myself I wondered if masculinity was itself something tangible. Is the masculine standard objective and physical? If my machismo is entangled in my physical, then it stands to reason that I am not a masculine man. The question then becomes- to what extent should I be content with this. Marrying new and found materials I play on the archetype of the builder, and test the boundaries between craftsmen, artist and labourer.
Recent exhibitions include
Juncture, CSAD, 2018,
Rattrap 3, Cathays Cons Club, Cardiff 2017 ,
UNIT(E) WIV Half Term Show G39, 2017. Mark has recently undertaken a residency at the Sidney Nolan Trust 2017.
The artist was in the following exhibitions: Sightseers RAT TRAP x g39 Links :www.markhicken.co.uk