Exploring regional identity
Mark’s linocuts explore a wide range of subjects, from reflections on his travels, to pop culture.
However a recurring theme in his body of work is exploring his own cultural heritage and roots. In his case, this predominantly means the north-east of England.
Murphy was born in Sunderland, the son of former coal miner Jimmy Murphy and housewife Vivien. He grew up in the fallout of Thatcher’s closure of the shipyards and coal mines in the 1980s.
Often Mark’s work celebrates that part of the UK where he hails from. Here we can see familiar architecture, characters, heavy industry motifs and then some. Even the artist’s Irish ancestry is echoed through images from his travels in Dublin.
Exploring regional identity and where we come from helps us understand our personal make-up and where we come from.
Let’s take a look at a handful of Murphy’s regionalist artworks.
'Into the Mine'
To begin with, ‘Into the Mine’ is an early linocut I made in which the silhouette of a miner is caught dramatically against the light that spills into the dark underground setting. On the right hand-side is a coal carriage, with simple line work suggesting a track and the surrounding interior.
The effect of light in the darkness imbues the work with a sense of mystery.
As the son of a coal-miner myself, I wanted to pay homage to the industrial heritage of the North-East of England and the tough, dangerous work of the miners. I do this through my regional art here, with a poignant image of the brave miner in silhouette.
This is a limited edition linocut, printed on beautiful 285gsm Fabriano Rosapina Avorio paper.
‘Into the mine’ is available to purchase here.
'The Bridges'
Secondly, here my regional art shows the Railway and the Wearmouth bridges of my home city of Sunderland, in the North-East of England.
The work shows these local landmarks from the unusual perspective of down below looking up.
I often fish along the River Wear from this spot, so this viewpoint is a familiar one. There is something very fascinating about these strong man-made structures contrasted against the natural elements, which I hope this work captures to some degree.
‘Grey, crystal skies, a strange disposition of bridges…‘ – ‘The Bridges’ – Arthur Rimbaud.
This is a limited edition linocut, printed on beautiful Fabriano Rosapina Avorio 285gsm paper.
This artwork can be purchased here.
'The Staithes'
This is a linocut directly based on a photograph I took myself one evening while walking along the riverside in Gateshead, in the North-East of England. The work shows the Dunston Staithes, believed to be the largest wooden structure in Europe.
The Staithes was originally where millions of tonnes of coal would be loaded onto ships to be taken around the UK and also exported abroad.
My depiction shows the structure at twilight, with the surrounding lights that have just started to come on, reflecting in the River Tyne.
This is a limited edition linocut, printed on beautiful 285gsm Fabriano Rosapina Avorio paper.
‘The Staithes’ is available here.
'Grafton Street, Dublin'
In the same vein, this is another linocut, but from my Dublin series. The piece was only the fourth or fifth linocut I made on first discovering the technique which I quickly fell in love with!
The work is carved directly from a photograph I took during my visit to the city and shows one of the main high streets on a rainy afternoon, with shoppers and couples going about their jaunt.
I really wanted to capture an ordinary moment and elevate it through art. The work is in dedication to one of my favourite cities.
In this piece, my regional art extends to Dublin and honours my own Irish ancestry.
This is a limited edition linocut, printed on 315gsm Heritage Bookwhite paper.
You can purchase this linocut here.
'Hoo-Hah'
Continuing the theme of regional art is my original hand carved limited edition linocut. It’s another work I did that explores cultural and social identity in my home region of the North-East of England. Touching on different aspects.
From the industrial heritage of the area, through depictions of coal miners and collieries, to the silhouette of a chemical plant. Then common graffiti seen in the region. The ‘FTM’ being an abbreviation significant to the great footballing rivalry here of Newcastle and Sunderland! Near the centre of the work ‘Andy Capp’ the comic strip character from English newspapers, who was meant to typify the Northern working class man, can be seen pointing and seemingly laughing at the popular TV show logo ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
The work brings together a series of images not to make a commentary as such, but to leave ideas open to the viewer’s own interpretation.
‘Hoo-Hah’ is examining regional identity on many levels and is a great example of my regional art.
This is a limited edition linocut, printed on quality printmaking paper.
‘Hoo-Hah’ is available to buy here.
'Why Aye Man'
Finally, this is an original large-scale, hand-carved and hand-burnished linocut. This piece explores cultural identity within a regional context, focusing on my native North-East of England.
References to the digital age of social media are juxtaposed around images of the industrial heritage of the region. The ‘X’ referring to the popular show ‘The X-Factor’. In the bottom left corner a silhouette of a coal miner stood near a coal carriage can be seen, while diagonally opposite on the right side are two ships and cranes.
You might need to look closer though which is what I want to encourage with my work.
This a nod to the rich tradition of shipbuilding particularly in my home city of Sunderland. The ‘Bigg Market’ is a well-known drinking spot in Newcastle, at one time full of bars and nightlife, maybe not so much these days.
The drinking culture of this part of the world is alluded to again with the word ‘Kiss’ – a popular bar at one time in Newcastle and in the bottom right corner, a self-portrait of the artist by a table full of drinks completes this theme.
The work is strong, bold and graphic. A unique blend of words and imagery.
This is another of my regional art pieces and is available to purchase here.
