My collage A LIFE OF ABUNDANCE is composed of fragmented body parts, flowers and an abundance of everyday objects and of pleasure. You can see several arms and hands intertwined, holding a lush bouquet of flowers. At the top, in the centre of the picture, you can see a hand holding a bunch of dark grapes, which I chose as a reference to the ‘convivia’ in ancient Rome, where these banquets were a central part of social life and famous for their luxury, duration and excessiveness. They were not only for eating, but were also displays of wealth, status and hospitality.
On closer inspection, one discovers a richly laid table with fruit, vegetables, drinks, crockery and various cooking utensils. The arrangement is overloaded and densely packed. The lavish accumulation of objects, food, flowers and luxury items is an indication that the protagonists lead a life of abundance. Nothing seems to be missing – on the contrary: the multitude of things exceeds what is necessary, which is intended to convey an impression of material wealth and consumption.
The human figures are fragmented and incomplete. Their faces are covered or only partially visible. The objects, on the other hand, are clearly recognisable and numerous. The bouquet of flowers in the centre symbolises beauty, wealth, but also transience. In combination with the sumptuous food, the scene is reminiscent of Baroque still lifes, which often thematised abundance with hidden references to the transience of life. My collage refers to the abundance in the Western world, where material wealth dominates, yet does not make people happy.
