Poison (NLR) by Mark Goodchild, Salvaged Steel, Unique, 160cm high, 70cm wide, 80cm deep, Abstract, Rose, Floral sculpture

Poison (NLR) by Mark Goodchild is a striking abstract sculpture crafted from salvaged steel. Measuring 160cm high, 70cm wide, and 80cm deep, the work commands attention with its dramatic contrast and bold symbolism. A vivid red rose, forged from steel, blooms atop a rugged black metal framework, immediately evoking tension between beauty and brutality.

The rose, while traditionally a symbol of love or delicacy, is here reimagined in industrial material, its petals shaped from steel, sharp-edged and defiant. Its vibrant red colour bleeds intensity, suggesting not only passion but also danger. This juxtaposition, delicate form in harsh medium, forces a deeper reflection on fragility, resilience, and transformation.

Beneath the rose, the blackened metal structure stands like a fractured pedestal. It feels both mechanical and organic, as if part ruin and part vine. This base adds weight and grounding, emphasizing the rose’s defiant rise above it. The raw finish, weld marks, and angular cuts throughout reflect Goodchild’s interest in repurposing industrial debris into forms charged with emotional and social commentary.

Ultimately, Poison (NLR) is more than a sculpture, it’s a provocation. It explores the duality of allure and danger, creation and destruction, and challenges viewers to consider the cost and complexity behind what we find beautiful.