Inspired by the last meal consumed by celebrities and historical personalities, following a style that resembles Dutch Golden age’s vanitas compositions, clashing with a distinctive saturated lights ensemble. The decorative abundance and the precariousness of life are represented by the stories contained in the series, as relevant today as they were in the Seventeenth century, contrasting and thus linking two distant epochs, but with much more in common than one can imagine.
Commissioned and exhibited at the PhotoBrussels Festival (Hangar Art Center, Brussels) alongside Master Erwin Olaf.
"Each still tells a story of Death and glory, morality and Immortality"
Jesus Christ
Cause of death: Crucifixion (Jerusalem)
Last Meal:
- Unleavened bread
- Charoset
- Lamb
- Wine
Napoleon Bonaparte
Cause of death:
Stomach cancer/ulcer (St. Helena, 1821)
Last Meal:
Garlic bread with tomatoes · Sautéed kidneys in sherry · Liver and bacon · Shirred eggs.
Marilyn Monroe
Cause of death:
Barbiturate overdose (Los Angeles, 1962)
Last Meal:
- Stuffed mushrooms
- Meatballs
- Champagne
Jim Morrison
Cause of death:
Heart failure (Paris, 1971)
Last Meal:
- Chinese take-out
- Whiskey
- Beer
Elvis Presley
Cause of death:
Heart attack (Memphis, 1977)
Last Meal:
- Four scoops of vanilla ice cream
- Six chocolate chip cookies
Kurt Cobain
Cause of death:
Suicide (Seattle, April 1994)
Last Meal:
- Cans of Barq's root beer.
Neon Vanitas
Behind the understanding of death are all the moral values of existence. Thus, with the appearance of materialist thought which, it is said, is located towards the Renaissance period, spiritual values fall into oblivion, death is evaded, feared, and superstition is born. Ephemeral pleasures, being more tangible, predominate. It is not surprising to see that crime, suicide, addictions and all such problems are on the rise.
Memento homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris."
The Story Behind
“I always been fascinated by food, since childhood it played a key role in my life. Many great memories are linked to plates consumended on certain special occasions, with relatives and friends.
I will never forget the joy I felt as a child, when with my parents every time for my birthday we went to a self-service restaurant, where I ordered everything I wanted and at the end of the meal, I always chose the cake with double layer of chocolate and cream, garnished with chentily and sugar flowers.
Or the taste of shelled almonds that my grandmother used to gave me when I went to visit her, the unmistakable taste, as much as the stale smell that could be felt through the bag, due to the sideboard of the house where she use to keep them. Memories of past moments gone for a long time now, but that are imprinted in my mind and on my taste buds.”
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