Vanitas
“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think." Marcus Aurelius
As this series has developed I have discovered that however personal and exclusive many of my own experiences may seem my emotional response to situations is shared. Much of this work explores the journey of a fragile physical and emotional being in a beautiful but often complex and overwhelming world.
"The nature of the specimens I work with often draws my work towards Vanitas themes, it's why I started working with them in the first place. I find it interesting that in nature one of the most beautiful times of year is one in which things are dying but in a way I know is necessary to make way for the next season. It is a life cycle I am much more comfortable with than my own and a reminder to try to approach each day as if it could be my last"
Sphenoid
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
Sphenoid is a Vanitas piece by Fiona Parkinson. An artistic tradition that reminds us of the transiency of life and the importance of not focusing on worldly goods and possessions.
Sphenoid is named after one of the seven bones that create the orbit of the human skull. The bone, situated in the front of the skull has two sets of winds resembling the appearance of a butterfly.
Selection of Pieces from this Collection
For many people butterflies represent the brevity of life, many of the specimen I work with live for only a few days. They emerge as some of the most beautiful creatures on our planet, reproduce and die in only a fleeting moment.
Time Flies
Time pieces are a common element of traditional Vanitas artwork. Time Flies exists as a real framed artwork made solely from real butterflies and a clock mechanism . This is a time lapse video of the passing of 24 hours.