The Dead Footplatemens Union
c. Michael St.Mark 2013

Context
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A section of highly worn metal staircase within a dated passenger tunnel at Sloane Square underground
station. Constructed during the very early 20th C and subject to constant daily foot traffic that must now
total billions of individual footfalls; much of the metal plate wear & tear apparent today doubtless caused
by long dead tourists and commuters scurrying to board trains or exit the station.
Interestingly, the plate erosion is focused on six specific areas, forming a kind of continually evolving
unconscious artwork – the two patches of wear in the foreground mainly from descending feet impacting
at speed,  the two further on from where feet are shuffled and re-positioned ready to descend the next
flight… and the two smaller eroded areas on the top step of the far staircase likely caused by the more
precise steps of ascending passengers.
.
The compacted aggregate of memory stretching over decades, of a technologically and culturally
defunct era is palpable in the brief silences between trains and travellers…

Data
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Signed edition of 50 C-Type prints on Fuji Crystal Archive paper
20″ x 15″ ( unframed )
£420

See website for purchase details