cycle of life part 2
Cycle of Life
‘Cycle of Life series continued.’
This series is a continuation of a previous series where I captured flowers as they slowly die and decay. In this series, I have done the same. However, I have created a different arrangement of flowers and used a Beswick vase as opposed to a Crown Lynn one. These photographs are inspired by and have a connection to the Dutch masters and their vanitas still life 17th century paintings.
The Dutch masters explored ideas of life and death. They used cut flowers, skulls, candles, cut open fruit, dead game and so on, to emphasise the idea of ‘momento mori’ which roughly translates to ‘one day you will die’. ‘Vanitas’ roughly translates to vanity, so they would also use objects such as musical instruments or other precious objects to remind the viewer that you can’t take these objects with you when you die. The Dutch masters also used objects like silver dinner ware to emphasise wealth and opulence.
In this work, I am speaking about, not what the Dutch masters were exploring, but about ideas of time, life and death and the contrast between the permanence of the vase (in that it will be passed on from generation to generation) and the impermanence of the flowers (in that they will wilt and die). Therefore, I am exploring ideas of loss, sentimentality and nostalgia.
Cycle of Life #9, 2024, size and paper type varies. (Image above).
Cycle of Life #10, 2024, size and paper type varies.
Cycle of Life #12, 2024, size and paper type varies.
Cycle of Life #14, 2024, size and paper type varies.
Cycle of Life #16, 2024, size and paper type varies.
Cycle of Life #11, 2024, size and paper type varies.
Cycle of Life #13, 2024, size and paper type varies.
Cycle of Life #15, 2024, size and paper type varies.
Cycle of Life (Part 2) as a series. These photographs can also work on their own.
