Inhumation No. 2

2020

Copperplate print on etching paper.
Edition of 50.

Today, there seems to be less pleasure among the
public in discovering the treasures of art, and more
focus on covering up that which does not delight.
Inhumations are based on a series of 18th century
prints by Carlo Labruzzi. The images depicting early
archaeological dig sites are redrawn by the artist,
with the concept inverted; instead of uncovering lost
masterpieces, we see contemporary artworks being
buried. The artist reflects upon the cold, dispassionate
problematisation and cancellation of artworks by
institutions which should exist to revere and protect
them. By featuring pieces which are highly prized
by the iconoclasts of our time, the artist poses the
question ‘What if they came for your favourites?’
The series concludes with something of a hopeful
resolution – Inhumation No.3 is based on an original
etching depicting a man walking into a room filled with
ancient treasures, as if discovering it for the first time.
However, since the iconoclastic purge of cancellation
is still ongoing, the artist replaces him with a shadow
cast on the wall, as if he is just about to walk in. The
work suggests that what is lost has not yet been
rediscovered, but one day will be.