The MachinistS
A large scale endurance art piece, highlighting the current issues of modern day slavery
The Machinists is a compelling and thought-provoking art piece that unveils the grim truth of modern-day slavery. Rob has meticulously woven together symbolism, imagery, and stark realism to cast light upon the often-overlooked plight of millions who endure exploitation, while Western consumers enjoy the fruits of their labour. It offers a reflection of the harsh realities faced by those who exist in the shadows, unheard and unseen. The Machinists is not an easy piece, nor should it be. It challenges our complacency, our ignorance, and our indifference, as this issue affects most western consumption. The Machinists is more than an art piece; it is a testament to our shared responsibility to bring about a world where freedom truly knows no bounds.
Our Project
This project will use eleven thousand seven hundred shrouded figures seated at sewing machines, which when put together, will cover an area larger than a tennis court. By using two contrasting colours, we will have the ability to create words within the installation, resulting in a very powerful message.
the message
The piece will cover 196 boards, with the image you see above covering only 5. The first prototype used the word STOP, however, we realised this is not the way forward, so we changed it to START. We wish to work with an array of organisations and movements to help us find the correct message to write. This is the essence of this project, as the result will be an emotive and memorable piece of art.
Portfolio
For the last nine years Rob has created a number of major, large-scale installations, all using the image of a shrouded figure. He has used the shrouds to show the striking reality of the large number of lives lost during world war one. Each figure represented a life lost, with his largest piece including over seventy-two thousand figures.
He creates all of these figures alone.