Rest in Dust

Zandri Oosthuysen, Rest in Dust, Monotype on Hahnemühle paper, 21 x 14.8cm, Ed 1 of 1, 2025, Framed

In my work, I explore mortality and death. My work reflects my interest in memento mori – the Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you will die’. This subject, closely related to Vanitas still life, was prevalent during the Baroque. The genre featured symbols pointing to mortality - encouraging reflection on the transience of life. Rather than illustrating typical human skulls, I refer to animal remains – specifically skulls, flesh and bones – to flesh out these ideas of life and death. This fascination stems from processing my own mortality, which is further emphasised by my health issues. I’m also interested in the significance of remains. As a child on my grandparents’ farm, I witnessed the slaughtering and dressing of animals, it was then that my fascination with animal remains began. Through repetitive study, I use their remains to contemplate mortality and attempt to make sense of death - the finality of it. Most recently, referring to animal remains as a reminder of our inevitable death, I draw on the Old Testament’s imagery and description of the shadow of death, interpreted as our awareness that we, and our loved ones, will die. I explore the concept of Sheol, interpreted as a dwelling place of the dead and a place of stillness, as a point of departure to contemplate what happens after death – spiritually, and the physical decay of the body.