Ars Moriendi in Numbers, 1993-1994
The Ars Moriendi in Numbers series (Latin for 'Art of Dying...') consists of nine unstretched and embroidered canvases which hang from the wall like shrouds. This work is inspired by the 15th Century Ars Moriendi, the so-called European Book of The Dead, which consists of literary and visual instructions for the dying individual to prepare the soul for impending death. In these paintings I juxtapose the spiritual wisdom from the Middle Ages with our modern society's obsession with technology and immortality, which is symbolised by the Hindu-Arabic numbers. The result is an amalgamation of cross-cultural burial rites with personal images of death hinting that our century is not so different from the Middle Ages. Today's AIDS epidemic might pick out anyone as its victim, just as the Plague did then.
Ars Moriendi in 0, 1993
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 1, 1994
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 2, 1993
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 3, 1994
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 4, 1993
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 5, 1994
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 6 & 9, 1993
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 7, 1994
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches
Ars Moriendi in 8, 1993
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
60 inches x 49 inches