This series of oil paintings explores the grotesque and beautiful qualities of death. Working from memory and photographs, the shapes, textures, and colours of decomposing animal bodies have been altered to investigate the human attraction to and repulsion from death. Relating the body to the painting process, the wetness and layering of fat, tissue, and cartilage is captured through the viscosity, transparencies, and textures that the medium allows. The paintings include rich, colourful pigments and detailed fur markings to create abstract forms that reference the animal body.
The animal remains that I have referenced in my paintings were found both in nature and on the side of the road. No animals were harmed for the purpose of this project; from my observations, the animals died of natural causes or by a motor vehicle. This project is not about the process of death, but rather the life that follows and extends from it.
I gratefully acknowledge the Manitoba Arts Council’s generous support of this project.