Death. It’s just natures way of telling you to slow down

Posted: April 14th, 2009 |

Vanitas – Unfinished Short Film

OK. Quick art history lesson. Vanitas paintings became popular in 14th and 15th century Europe as artistic expressions of the (Catholic) churches growing unease with the spread of trade and capitalism. The church took the position that the accumulation of wealth by profit was totally meaningless – mere vanity – sub specie acternitatus (in the face of death).

Claes Vanitas c.1630

Vanitas paintings, usually still life depicted the luxury goods which reflected the new consumer standards, and items illustrating the idle pastimes of the new merchant class. Exotic foods and luxury silverware, games and musical instruments. Mans (vain) attempts to understand and tame his dominion are represented by books of learning and scientific instruments. The beauty and sophistication of the paintings was always marred by the ominous presence of a skull to remind the viewer of the transience of all things, and the inevitability of well… the inevitable.

The iconography of these paintings was widely adopted, and understood by the viewer. The skull was obvious, but what of the burned book, or the broken string of beads? The carelessly overturned wine goblet, an hourglass or the lute with a broken string? Even a rotten apple on a fruit platter became a powerful warning of the dire consequences of straying from a life of pious obedience. The big guy will always get you in the end.

I’m not even a remotely religious person, but as a designer and graphic artist, I am keenly aware if the power of icons and there usefulness in communicating complex information. Vanitas, having started as a simple still-life modeling and lighting exercise grew into an exploration of the iconography and symbolism of these paintings. Some kind of elaborate mid life crisis? Perhaps. Or maybe I’m just worried about what might happen If I ever finish it…

View more production stills from Vanitas

Watch an exerpt from Vanitas

NOTE:The music for Vanitas is all taken from Mozart’s beautiful and terifying Reqiem Mass KV626. The piece in the exerpt is the Lacrimosa. Performed by the London Classical Players and the Shutz Choir of London and conducted by Roger Norrington. EMI: 7-54525-2