Mark Storor

photograph by Andrew Whittuck

Pillow Case: A Study

Pillow Case: A Study, “Thirteen candlelit photographs: Walter Smith’s the butchers, A sleeping prince,
on a marble slab, Is lulled by a song.” Overwhelmed by the infinite possibilities offered in the title alone,
‘Test Bed’, meant I could not get past it.”

“The implications of Test Bed as a concept, is a gift. Not only is it an opportunity for me to create a piece
of work that celebrates all that is joyous in my life; it allows me to continue to mine the rich source of
material to be found: ‘at home.’ The domestic environment, the ordinariness of everyday life is an endless
source of fascination for me.
The very thing that I have been vilified for, has brought me the greatest happiness; pole axed by the
notion of test bed, I could do nothing but make it.”

Mark continues to describe his test bed, “It is a clean bright white one, like a blank canvas, full of
possibility and adventure. It is a bed I am proud to lie in.”

 

Mark Storor is an artist and director, working in the space between live art and theatre. Most of his work is devised, site specific and collaborative.

 

Recent work includes:

Soft Ices, enshrined in the chimes of a 1970's Bedford ice cream van songs were swapped for an ice cream and sung unaccompanied becoming e a priceless record of something significant. The neon lit van is, ‘a magical, musical memory box' (BBC East).

Visiting Time, commissioned by The Wellcome Trust and working at Dorset County Hospital , Mark created a site specific promenade performance through the working hospital. The audience, four at a time were guided through the hospital by 23 pyjama clad, pillow heads. As visiting time draws on the experience of living with cystic fibrosis becomes clearer. ‘Haunting, exquisite, dangerous and beautiful' (Arts Council England).

Best Behaviour , for Polka Theatre, a devised performance piece: The Best Family were exhibited in the theatre's display cabinets. The work was nominated for a TMA Award. ‘one of the best pieces of theatre this century' * * * * * The Guardian.

 

Other work includes Our Caravan a touring caravan completely mosaiced on the outside with broken china and filled with tea and an abundance of bakewell tarts and fondant fancies. Essex Arts 2002. Exhibited in firstsite gallery March 2003.

 

Mark is currently working with 49 males between the ages of 0 and 70 on Boychild a study of masculinity in the 21st Century, commissioned by The Wellcome Trust. The first performance will be on Fathers Day 2007 in a former MOD building on Portland . He is also Artistic Director of 4 Corners for the Culture Company in Liverpool . Our House opens May 29 th 2007.