MORS ET ANIMA
November 4 - 25, 2023
The concept of the Wunderkammer, aka The Cabinet Of Curiosities has been an artistic inspiration for some time, however our new show opening in November by Ryan Matthew Cohn and Jean Labourdette takes it up a notch with an exceptional exhibition of sculptures and paintings based thematically on the subject.
Wunderkammers arose originally in the 16th century amongst the intellectually curious elite, who built rooms devoted to collections of objects gleaned from other cultures and the ethno-botanically wondrous. These collections served as the precursor to the concept of the Natural History museum… treasure troves meant to install creative wonder as well as scientific learning and examination. Contemporary Wunderkammers often include historical oddities and can lean towards the macabre with collections of bones, taxidermy, and religious artifacts.
Nature Morte
2023
wood, polychrome, paint, silver, preserved butterflies & insects
6 x 6 x 30 inches
Mors Omnia Rapit (Death Ravages All)
2023
bone, wood, polychrome, marble, glass eyes, brass
15 x 8 x 8 inches
Totentanz (Dance of Death)
2023
bone, taxidermy, marble, wood, brass
22 x 12 x 14 inches
Mors ultima linea rerum (Death, the Final Boundary of Things)
2023
bone, wood, polychrome, glass, velvet, antique paper
27 x 13 x 13 inches
Quis evadet (Who will be spared?)
2023
Bone, wood, polychrome, brass
17 x 8 x 7 inches