Life Stilled

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, powerful European countries explored beyond the edges of the known world in pursuit of knowledge and rare objects and specimens to fill the "Cabinets of Curiosity". The cabinets - precursors modern museums - were wondrous but they were symbolic of the darker legacies of imperial conquest where objects from the Colonies were extracted, catalogued and displayed with little regard for the cultures and ecosystems from which they were taken.

For 'Life Stilled', I draw inspiration from the intricate still life paintings of the Dutch Golden Age, intertwining their historical aesthetics with contemporary themes of post-Colonialism and extinction. My paintings therefore feature objects that carry a dual significance - beauty and loss. Feathers and bones of exotic birds, botanical specimens and other artefacts are combined randomly to create striking new curiosities.