Rob Ward

Description

'Marriage' is closely related to its sister piece, 'Cathedral' (2000). Like 'Cathedral,' the geometry of 'Marriage' references the traditional architectural form of the Christian church and/or cathedral. This is made all the more poignant given the religious connotations suggested through the title of the piece, a title that also makes reference to the two identical forms that comprise this work.

In keeping with Ward's sculptural oeuvre, which frequently places emphasis on the surface quality of materials, one half of 'Marriage' is fabricated from highly reflective and polished stainless steel. The second half, produced from mild steel, is strategically placed behind the stainless steel 'frontispiece' where it is intended to rust slowly thereby standing in stark contrast. As such, the rusted mild steel appears as a shadow of its stainless steel counterpart. However, unlike shadows cast by the sun, the mild steel half of 'Marriage' is unchangeable in comparison to its mutable stainless steel equivalent that literally reflects the changing nuances of its surroundings.