Ashes to Ashes (2008)

This piece is made out of modeling clay (i think it was paper clay) and painted with acrylic. There are three components; the skull, arm bone and part of a rib cage.

Ashes to Ashes makes a social comment about society's perception of death and the afterlife. Death is an uncomfortable subject to say the least Our fear of the unknown drives us to percieve death as daunting and overwhelming. It is surrounded by negative connotations. I wanted to challenge the stereotypical representation of death with my piece. I am a strong believer in cremation and returning to the earth when we die. Death is an inevitable part of our journey and it does not have to be feared. My piece presents the idea of death as beautiful and natural and suggests becoming a part of nature after death as a freeing possibility.

The bones are covered in organisms such as grass, leaves, flowers, fungi, sticks and insects made out of clay and sand and glue for moss. Bright greens, oranges and blues combined with earthy browns and greens and yellows balance the piece and [hopefully] inspire an optimisitic attitude in the viewer.