Memento Mori

This series is a modern day interpretation of “Memento Mori,” latin for “be mindful of death.”  It was a frequent theme of Dutch paintings that used symbolism that sent a macabre, but optimistic message: the reminder that life is limited inspires us to live well. It represents the fleeting nature of life through paintings of skulls, insects, flowers, and objects that show the effects of the passage of time. I combine the new with the old to represent this timeless theme, mixing a traditional genre and the techniques used to make it with artificial colors and modern symbolism. Trompe L’oeil (illusionistic painting) makes these symbolic objects and memories feel like they’re physically breaking into our world. Deep reds, dramatic contrast, and dark backgrounds come together to create a moody atmosphere to portray this dark subject matter.