Vanitas Still Lifes

During the beginning days and months of the COVID-19 pandemic, I became much more aware of my own mortality and the ephemeral nature of my surroundings. As I spent more time reflecting at home and as items became scarce, I questioned the value I placed on objects and came to terms with the inevitable transition to a new way of life. Through this series of digital illustrations, I explored the tradition of vanitas still-life painting. Each image contains symbolic items pertaining to anxiety, time, death, life, cleanliness, play, boredom, chaos, monotony, and hope. Through these images, I filter this ongoing experience with the acceptance of change and an urgency to find joy in the present.