Description

There are 4 skulls in the series and though were originally designed to be shown as a grid, I now think they stand better alone, interacting with what else you place them next to. I painted these pink skulls after a visit to the Sedlec Ossuary in Czech Republic. In the 15th century, a half-blind monk was given the task of dealing with the 40,000 human remains from the most popular graveyard in central Europe. He used the bones creatively to decorate the inside of a crypt – he really went to town though, making garlands, a huge chandelier and chalices. The energy of the place was so sympathetic and honoured the dead in such a beautiful manner. I hope these paintings do it some credit. I found that painting each skull was like painting a portrait, defining each furrow and plain, gives a suggestion of a face or personality of a life once lived. This was my favourite arrangement of bones. I painted this with a palette knife.