bookofweep@gmail.com
Memento Mori
2023, A Memento Series, Illustration/EditorialThis is the final project for my Bachelor in LISAA (L'Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués).
I had to choose a theme to base my final project around thus I chose Memento Mori
as it appealed to my artistic curiosities.
Memento Mori is a philosophical movement that has been practiced by various religions
and cultures since it's inception. The phrase ‘Memento Mori’, when translated from Latin,
means ‘remember you must die/remember death’. Despite this ominous portent, the term
was a mantra to live life to the fullest.
I chose this theme because I thought that death is an important role in life, They are two sides
of the same coin, and the topic of death is not talked about a lot in modern times,
it is usually shunned and hidden; to speak of such things is 'unlucky' and 'inappropriate'.
I explored this theme through my version of Memento Mori by connecting the topic
to absurdism, existentialism, and nihilism.
The three aforementioned philosophies can be broken down as follows:
meaninglessness, and chaotic nature. The individual trying to achieve order
and meaning will find nothing but the cold void and the silence of the stars.
is baseless and meaningless.
and by extension the universe, existence.
Additionally, it can take the form of realising one plays a small part in a large
and uncaring universe, where life and death are inconsequential to the wider cosmos.
Despite the harsh messages of these philosophies, one must remember 'Memento Mori' -
our lives are fleeting and ephemeral but in this there is beauty, and despite the cold and uncaring
universe we carry on. We all share the same fate and that is to die. Therefore, to see the world
and the universe around you as a crazy and meaningless existence and to reject this by existing,
understanding that you are alive, this is the crux of Memento Mori and what makes this life so fantastic.
The lack of meaning in life grants us freedom like no other; if nothing truly matters, then the things that
you make matter become the most important things in the universe! The freedom to break the shackles
of expectation and society through simply recognising the inherent meaninglessness of the universe
is a key aspect of this project.
I had to choose a theme to base my final project around thus I chose Memento Mori
as it appealed to my artistic curiosities.
Memento Mori is a philosophical movement that has been practiced by various religions
and cultures since it's inception. The phrase ‘Memento Mori’, when translated from Latin,
means ‘remember you must die/remember death’. Despite this ominous portent, the term
was a mantra to live life to the fullest.
I chose this theme because I thought that death is an important role in life, They are two sides
of the same coin, and the topic of death is not talked about a lot in modern times,
it is usually shunned and hidden; to speak of such things is 'unlucky' and 'inappropriate'.
I explored this theme through my version of Memento Mori by connecting the topic
to absurdism, existentialism, and nihilism.
The three aforementioned philosophies can be broken down as follows:
meaninglessness, and chaotic nature. The individual trying to achieve order
and meaning will find nothing but the cold void and the silence of the stars.
is baseless and meaningless.
and by extension the universe, existence.
Additionally, it can take the form of realising one plays a small part in a large
and uncaring universe, where life and death are inconsequential to the wider cosmos.
Despite the harsh messages of these philosophies, one must remember 'Memento Mori' -
our lives are fleeting and ephemeral but in this there is beauty, and despite the cold and uncaring
universe we carry on. We all share the same fate and that is to die. Therefore, to see the world
and the universe around you as a crazy and meaningless existence and to reject this by existing,
understanding that you are alive, this is the crux of Memento Mori and what makes this life so fantastic.
The lack of meaning in life grants us freedom like no other; if nothing truly matters, then the things that
you make matter become the most important things in the universe! The freedom to break the shackles
of expectation and society through simply recognising the inherent meaninglessness of the universe
is a key aspect of this project.