"Memento Mori" is a latin phrase that, translated, is a reminder of mortality... "You will die." The phrase has a tradition in art that dates back to antiquity, largely popularized in medieval art. In art history studies, "memento mori" often refers to the presence of a skull in an artwork as a reminder of every man's looming fatality. Although these warnings are present in art, these artworks themselves nearly immortalize those figures who are subjects of these works. The paintings remain centuries after the actual deaths of these people. I can't help but revel in this irony. I am setting out to do portraits of iconic historic and pop cultural figures as the memento mori. These are skull portraits with the identities of their owners portrayed by iconic hair styles and head gear. Here are some of the preliminary drawings...
George Washington
Cleopatra
Marie Antoinette
Julius Caesar
Buddha
Bob Marley
Elvis Presley
Frida Kahlo... for the artists in the audience.
More to come! Including Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Andy Warhol, Vlad the Impaler, and Queen Elizabeth I
