Still Point of the Turning World 1 & 2
‘Still Point Of The Turning World’ 1 & 2. 2019
Box framed circular Lumen Photographs.
37 x 28 x 3 cms
Silver gelatin prints, gold, selenium, 24 ct gold, wax.
£200/each
One year residency with the National Trust, Mottisfont.
Positioning herself in the famous rose garden from dawn until dusk last year, Eileen used some of the rare and beautiful shrub roses, with their intense but short lived bloom, along with plants collected from the chalk stream habitat, to create camera-less photographs, to witness the unfolding of the longest day.
The reference the ‘vanitas tradition’, a term which originally comes from the opening lines of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible: ‘Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity.’ Vanitas are closely related to memento mori still lifes which are artworks that remind the viewer of the shortness and fragility of life. It often depicted decay, death and the end of time, presenting this as a creative act in itself. Through this deeply moving experience, alongside the meditative and physical processes, Eileen developed her own unique technique that focuses upon the cyclic nature of existence.
Each print is framed using a dark pine box frame and hanging mounts, signed and dated.