Life &Death # 4
McQueen
used real and silk flowers for the motivation that he wanted to put adjacent to
life and death with decaying flowers. That exhibition is organized thematically,
nationalism, exoticism and historicism, particularly the Victorian Gothic and
the dichotomy of the life and death. ”Sarabande” collection, covered in fresh
flowers, now dried and decaying with age, an effect inspired by dead fruit in
contemporary artist Sam Taylor Wood’s work. It is particularly illuminating to
read McQueen’s quotes, which were posted throughout his collection, which also
hint his legacy. In 2010 he quoted “its important to look at death because it
is part of life”. To add to that quote he said, “ it’s a sad thing, melancholy
and romantic at the same time. It’s the ends of a cycle-everything has to end.
The cycle of life is positive because it give room for new things.
(http://latimesblogs.latimes.comicularly )
Though
this type of art aims to shock, the abundance of similar pieces on the market
has somewhat reduced the impact of its irony. Fashion photographer David
Bailey’s latest exhibition at Hamilton’s Gallery in Mayfair, for instance,
which features still life arrangements of skulls and flowers to represent life
and death, appears curiously commonplace and uninspiring. However, the trend is
far from over, and the death theme is fuelling a growing demand for skull
jewellery, fashion accessories and taxidermy – with artists like Polly Morgan
creating macabre sculptures from bits of dead birds and animals.
David Bailey "It sounds a bit poncey, but flowers
are about life and beauty. Skulls are about death. Skulls are the ultimate
sculptures - nature's sculptures. Flowers are a symbol of civilization and
represent man's imagination. Previously people had only grown things to eat. It
was a great moment when people would grow things for their beauty and not their
function. I've been doing these sorts of shots for 30 years. I do everything
from painting to sculpture and always have done. I shoot these still life the
same way I shoot people."
(http://www.bjp-online.com)-
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