MORTAL FOLLY

Influenced by the tradition of memento mori, these paintings explore the line between sensual beauty and reminders of mortality. The interiors of conch shells provide the lush pink surfaces in these studio still-lives. Bones are collected from songbirds, a turkey, a raccoon, a donkey, and insects are found in my studio collection of specimens. In the narrative of this work, the bones and insects intrude into the delicate spaces of the shells, trying to wrap themselves in protective flesh, to become whole. Their movement is suspended, creating an imbalance between vulnerability and strength; the seductive beauty of the paintings becomes a distraction from their underlying sense of uncertainty.