Memento mori & Classical studies
While studying art history at university over 20 years ago, two subjects fascinated me the most: the history of techniques, the ability of man to create with his hands, and iconography, the ability to incorporate symbols in his work to express an idea. Since then I have also developed a great fondness for Old Masters works and in particular works on paper, which has been a source of inspiration in my printmaking. The notion of Memento mori in Latin implies that man is not immortal, an idea used by many artists of the 17th-century onwards to reflect on death, the fragility of time and the futility of earthly possessions. This subject has always been dear to me, and something that I wanted to explore in my work, but finding the right objects always postponed the project. One of my oldest and closest friends is an avid collector of all sorts of artworks and curiosities, and the inspiration came immediately while visiting him. We discussed my ideas and we spent a week together in his home working on compositions. For this body of works, it was important for me to use only natural light to confer a painterly feel to the images, in homage to the Old Masters.
Chine-collé platinum-palladium print on gampi
48 x 60 cm (58 x 78 cm) / 19 X 23 3/4" (22 x 27”)
Limited edition of 5 + AP
32 x 40 cm (48 x 58 cm) / 12 1/2 X 15 3/4” (19 x 22”)
Limited edition of 8 + AP
MEMENTO MORI & CLASSICAL STUDIES
While studying art history at university over 20 years ago, two subjects fascinated me the most: the history of techniques, the ability of man to create with his hands, and iconography, the ability to incorporate symbols in his work to express an idea. Since then I have also developed a great fondness for Old Masters works and in particular works on paper, which has been a source of inspiration in my printmaking. The notion of Memento mori in Latin implies that man is not immortal, an idea used by many artists of the 17th-century onwards to reflect on death, the fragility of time and the futility of earthly possessions. This subject has always been dear to me, and something that I wanted to explore in my work, but finding the right objects always postponed the project. One of my oldest and closest friends is an avid collector of all sorts of artworks and curiosities, and the inspiration came immediately while visiting him. We discussed my ideas and we spent a week together in his home working on compositions. For this body of works, it was important for me to use only natural light to confer a painterly feel to the images, in homage to the Old Masters.
Installation view - black frames with museum glass, 70x90cm (approx. 27.5x35.5 in.)
