Death is a constant possibility and a recurring visitor in our lives, as well as an eventual inevitability. So, what is our relationship with death? Is it something we dread and avoid, something we think about often? Is is true that death is never more than an arm-length away from us - do we carry our own death and the deaths of others around with us throughout our day-to-day lives? When we envision death, do we see it personified, a grim reaper, a skeleton?
We know that our existence will change when we die; and while no one really knows what that existence will be like, our understanding of that existence effects the way we live our lives and our relationship with death.
These are some of the thoughts that are brought to mind upon engaging with the subtle, yet powerful photography of 'Paper Lilies' photographer, Michele. Her work draws us in to a dreamlike, otherworldly reality that is at once ordinary and fantastic.
Michele has gracefully agreed to share her work, and some of her thoughts on art and death with The Daily Undertaker:
"death to me is very confusing, i don't understand it and i don't know what comes afterward, but i think that's somehow the sort of beauty in it. "
"nonetheless i think death is a very interesting topic, sometimes overlooked, ignored, feared."
"my photographs with the skeleton show a sort of desired connection to death - wanting to hold on to past loved ones, not wanting to move on."
"my fading portraits, however, show a very different aspect.i think we all feel like we are fading into the atmosphere a bit, like we aren't all here..or that we aren't seen. that we are fading into what could be death....an unnoticed or forgotten instance."
"my 'double exposures' are actually not double exposures at all, rather, they are just long exposures. i would have the shutter open for 30 seconds, run and sit where i was taking the photo for half of that time, then run and leave for the next, so you get this dream like, half-there-half-not effect."
"i think that yes, my images do have a correspondence to death in some ways,
my photographs have brought me closer to the subject of death. i think it has made me less afraid of it, and more curious."
my photographs have brought me closer to the subject of death. i think it has made me less afraid of it, and more curious."
For more of Michele's beautiful and engaging work, visit her Flickr site, Paper Lilies
For related posts, visit Art and Death
For related posts, visit Art and Death
