Mark Wallinger

MARK WALLINGER (Chigwell, England, 1959).
"Ghost."
Silkscreen, copy 422/500.
Hand signed and numbered on the back.
Measurements: 55 x 47 cm; 60 x 52,5 cm (frame).

The white unicorn, a figure that often symbolizes unattainable purity, is impregnated in Mark Wallinger's work with political connotations, suggesting an ambiguous approach: the title and the image of photographic appearance emphasizes its ghostly essence, of mythical creature. But, at the same time, it suggests that utopia (ideals) continues to stir us up inside.

English artist Mark Wallinger is known for his ability to use art as a tool for social and political commentary, combining intellectual rigor with a deep sense of history and culture.

He emerged as part of the generation of British artists that formed in the 1980s and 1990s, often associated with the Young British Artists (YBAs). However, his approach has been more conceptual and political than many of his contemporaries. Wallinger addresses issues of identity, spirituality and power, often questioning authority and exploring subjectivity. His work can be both direct and ironic, using cultural and religious symbols to provoke reflection. Having been nominated for the Turner Prize in 1995, he won it in 2007 for his installation State Britain. His work Ecce Homo (1999-2000) was the first to occupy the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. He has represented Britain at the Venice Biennale, Documenta in Kassel and the Istanbul Biennial, among other international art events. Labyrinth (2013), a permanent commission for Art on the Underground, was created to celebrate 150 years of the London Underground. In 2018, the permanent work Writ in Water was made for the National Trust to celebrate the site where Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede. He has held exhibitions at major art institutions such as Tate Britain in London, the Museum of Modern Art in Frankfurt, and the Du Mont Foundation in Cologne.