This contemporary use of symbolism is also at the heart of Kirsten Deirup’s work. Resembling ecological memento mori, Deirup’s still lifes use muted colors and hazy backgrounds, as spindly plants grow from half-dead stems. Like Dutch Golden Age artists, Deirup adds everyday objects, including power cords and slices of bread. “When I paint [these] items, I aim to imbue them with meaning that speaks to ideas around consumption, utility, and ecology,” she said. “In doing so, I hope to create a tension that resonates between beauty and decay.”
In Benign Right (2023), this tension is apparent in the seemingly dying tree planted in a woven basket. At the ends of the branches are brooch-like flowers with gaudy gemstones, apparently trying to mask the decay with opulence. Two spray bottles sit nearby: Are they filled with life-giving water, or perhaps a chemical that might artificially sustain the plant, but will inevitably further the destruction of the natural world?
