This piece is a callback to the artistic representation of “Memento Mori” which was a popular theme explored in 16-17th century European artwork. A concept born out of the era of Classical Antiquity, Memento Mori is a reminder of mortality and that all must die eventually. Some of my favorite artwork from this era are paintings that illustrate beautiful bouquets of flowers displayed alongside fruits. At first glance, it seems like a straight-forward painting, but as one looks closer, they might notice signs of decay in the seemingly lavish and bountiful depiction, such as the withering flower in the back or the fly sitting on one of the fruits. It’s a reminder that, no matter how rich or poor, beautiful or plain, death comes for us all.
As much as this piece is also a callback to one of my older pieces I’ve done back in 2019, “Surburt Space Prince” where I wanted to explore color and botany, this piece makes the opposite statement to Memento Mori. An ode to Optimism, the vibrant colors of Memento Vivere reminds the viewer of Life, and to live in the moment, is to live it in its fullest capacity.