"Lacrimae Rerum" is a Memento Mori style art print, which was painted as I was processing the passing of a friend, and reflecting on the cycle of death and life.
'Lacrimae Rerum" is latin for "tears of things". It's a reminder of the tragedy of death. This piece also serves as a reminder that there is beauty in the constant cycle of life and death, and that there is opportunity for growth within the process of grieving.
Memento mori is a style of art meant to remind us of the impermanence of life, and the inevitability of death. Traditionally, memento mori incorporates a skull or bones of some kind, and often wilting flowers. Here I've chosen to include a Robin and a Fly Agaric Mushroom - Robins are considered a sign that loved ones who have passed are near, and a message that they are ok and at peace. It can also mean that you are entering a new phase of your life - this piece isn't just about the death of a loved one, but also the death of parts of ourselves - the pieces we have to let go of that allow us to take flight and evolve past our limitations - and the process of grieving for those pieces and what we thought might come to pass. The iconic Fly Agaric mushroom is commonly associated with shamanic journeys and the transformation they can provide, along with being fearless and unafraid of what lies ahead.
