MOKSHA; The Illustrated Book About Death

Moksha, and Illustrated Book about Death 2007-9
Digital photographic prints, text, and drawings (pen and ink illustrations as well as diagrams drawn with a soldering iron on heat sensitive paper)

The Illustrated Book About Death began as a comparison of the functions of science and art. It was a field guide to death and nothingness
using the corpses of dead birds as muse; a catalogue of the dead birds I found in my garden and the reflections they inspired. It was intended to harmonize art and science to inspire contemplation
of the ephemeral and perpetual cycle of life. It consisted of informative and mysterious text and hand drawn thanatological and ornithological diagrams followed by photographs of specimens at all staged of
decay that illustrated the
process of death and discussed the essence of life.
The project has evolved into a chapter of a larger book. The original content has been reworked into a more poetic, spiritual representation.
The photographic imagery has been transformed into ornate mandalas and the text has been restructured in the style of the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

The psychedelic photographs and the surreal poetry act as meditation tools and focus on the theme of freedom through understanding.