My newest works consider vanitas in a modern conceit, reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a traditional sense, vanitas alludes to themes of plague, desperation, dehumanization, and loss. Although I have previously looked in this direction for inspiration, these historical paintings of the fleeting world feel more immediate to me than ever. I now see them as compassionate pictures rather than merely ones of dark, glittering glamour. I am also finding vanitas in my everyday surroundings, from the foods I wash in my sink to the items I stock in my freezer box. For this series, I have accumulated photos that colleagues, friends, and family have been asked to snap of foods and items they have stocked, including their domestic and refrigerator interiors.
