Mark Antony Haden Ford
Mediums Used
There is a sense of peace when you sit inside one of Two Circles Designs’ sculptures by Mark and Rebecca Ford. Created from coppiced willow, sweet chestnut and hazel with not one stitch of man-made fixings, these woven structures undulate and flow in purely natural, organic forms. Strong, yet intricate, the rods bend, coil and twist, in a myriad of patterns and swirls that cast web-like shadows against the ground. There is a feeling of enclosure and safeness within these constructed spaces, yet they are light and airy and the sky can still be seen beyond. They have a universal quality about them, the swirls and twirls could at any time be entangled trees, spider’s webs or the veins that course through our bodies. This approach essentially reminds us all of our innate connection to the natural world.
‘As Land artists making small and large scale structures, we feel that creating ephemeral woven forms is a process of discovery. When we manipulate our own experiences of the universe the potential of using plant forms are metamorphasized by the human hand into a new life form.
Sculptures by Mark Antony Haden Ford
Credentials
Qualifications
BA (Hons), Sculpture, University of Sunderland,BA (Hons), Sculpture, University of Sunderland
Exhibitions
Commissions by Arundel Castle, National Trust, RHS Tatton, Burberry fashion brand, Arundel Wetlands, Venice Biennale, Grange Opera, Osbourne Books and exhibitions in Italy, France, LEAF Festival, Texas USA, Talamh Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Scotland.
Exhibiting since 1990, Mark Ford graduated from his sculpture degree at Sunderland in 1996. As a Land Artist he is inspired and informed by the natural world. Growing up immersed in the Sussex Downland, he has developed a strong interest in the archaeology, geography and mystery of the area, also drawing on rural and ancient traditions of willow working, which, in a pre-plastic world was seen as an essential product.
Rebecca Ford, an English and creative writing degree graduate and trained secondary school teacher began working with Mark and in 2004 they formed Two Circles Design. A creative duo making work to commission ranging from distinctive garden design projects, festivals, sculptural installations in galleries and outdoor classrooms for Schools. Their work is flexible and from locally sourced materials. The pieces can be allowed to take root and form permanent living environments,
‘As Land artists making small and large scale structures, we feel that creating ephemeral woven forms is a process of discovery. When we manipulate our own experiences of the universe the potential of using plant forms are metamorphasized by the human hand into a new life form.
It is this transformation that makes the work so powerfully alluring. The unusual forms surprise and challenge, yet the origin of the work is always present, the fact that the materials are plant based, pulses through every form.
Having restored local `over-stood` willow stools back into rotation for harvesting themselves, through to the physical demands of manipulating the material, Mark and Rebecca Ford’s work reflects a renewed interest in returning to a slower pace of life, to the art of making something that takes time and effort to produce. The Sculptures final forms take time to evolve, the nature of the material dictating in part, the direction and shape. As the willow criss-crosses and interweaves, it creates fluid lines, drawings on a grand scale, a flowing story that stimulates and exhilarates the senses.
Based in Slindon, within the South Downs National Park, they live in a National Trust cottage with their daughter Florence and a mischievous Jack Russell dog called Fedge. The garden and house are used to experiment and explore new techniques and ideas. Among the gorgeous sculptures, arbours and seats that scatter across their garden, they are experimenting with freeweaving and `bendernomics`, an ancient architectural technique adapted to create extensions to country cottages and wedding reception venues. When covered, the structures mould around the woven walls and emanates a pod-like glow when lit up at night, Snug and cosy, yet still rooted in the outdoors, it connects the inside to the out seamlessly.
In May 2016 we represented the UK at the International Land Art Meeting Humus Park, in Pordenone, Italy.
Jo Webbern, Head of pre prep, Dunnanie, Bedales
“This really was a whole school effort, driven by the ideas of the children and supported by the teachers and Two Circles Design. The children took ownership of the project and were incredibly proud when it was finished. The sculpture is in many ways symbolic of our teaching approach at Dunnanie, developing inquisitive and independent learners. Mark and Rebecca Ford came to the school to help pupils plan how they were going to use willow to recreate their designs and identify dimensions and quantities.”
Regis School, Bognor Regis, Caroline Saunders, Assistant Vice Principle and Andrea Coleman, Head of inclusion Faculty.
"Creating the willow dome has been an amazing project, not only involving year 6 children and their parents, but also year 10 students. An ideal way of helping young people understand the meaning of sustainability”
Mrs Cluff, Head of Art and Design, Bourne Community College, Southbourne
“Year 10 GCSE Art and Design students worked alongside Sussex based artists Mark and Rebecca Ford of Two Circles Design to create a sculpture installation. Students created 3d artworks responding to the theme of microscopic and natural forms. The two-day workshop introduced students to varied techniques and an exploration of woven forms using natural materials. The sculpture, woven around an existing pillar, expands out across the ceiling with student’s artwork suspended from and woven into the tree life form, bold and beautiful”
Sally Milligan, Apuldram Centre, Apuldram, nr Chichester
“The Apuldram Centre worked for three days with artists, Mark and Rebecca Ford to create an amazing willow sculpture. The Apuldram Centre is a centre for adults with learning disabilities. Mark and Rebecca went through all the processes involved by taking clients to coppice material and then designing and realising their design. A wonderful project"
Jane Walters, Head mistress, Slindon Cof E School.
“Mark and Rebecca are a very professional team, who are skilled willow weavers who also know how to engage children; explaining to them so they can understand clearly. They always engage the children in learning and furthering their understanding. Mark and Rebecca have worked with us regularly and our extremely supportive of our school community”.
