Modern Vanitas
This body of work reflects on mortality, the human condition, and our culture’s obsession with materialism. Through imagery inspired by Dutch paintings, it expresses the transience of our existence by exploring our shared experiences with food.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, artists in the Netherlands and beyond created works of "Memento Mori," a Latin phrase meaning "remember we must die." These paintings often contained symbols of death, such as skulls, serving as reminders of life’s ephemerality and warnings against wasting time on worldly pursuits. Closely related to these were "Vanitas," still-life compositions, which featured seemingly random objects of their time such as candles, silver platters, and exotic foods that symbolized the futility of life’s pleasures and offered moral lessons for the soul.
I was drawn to these paintings because their message about consumerism is even more relevant today. Mass consumption now carries not only spiritual consequences but also tangible, global ones. Industrial farming, globalization of trade, and the mass production of cheap plastics have all contributed to climate change. These modern realities parallel the cautionary themes of Vanitas’ art. Yet, beyond their warnings, I’ve come to appreciate these works as meditations on the fleeting nature of existence and reflections of our shared human experience.
My work draws inspiration from the Baroque lighting and use of chiaroscuro found in these historical pieces. I often recreate their dramatic light, diagonal lines, and cluttered compositions, but I populate my images with contemporary, carefully chosen objects. Fast food represents mass consumption; fruit illustrates our reliance on global food transport, and candles and wilting flowers symbolize the passage of time and life’s impermanence. In my more recent pieces, I’ve pared down the compositions, highlighting fewer objects to evoke a more visceral response.
Though humor often plays a role in these images by elevating the mundane through subjects like Starbucks cups and Burger King wrappers, the underlying message remains serious. The combination of wit and rich, dramatic lighting draws viewers in and encourages them to reflect on the deeper meanings embedded in these still-life arrangements.