“The Tarnished Age” her last body of work is an ode to the long tradition of dutch still life painting. Emerging out of the midnight-black void, the subjects allude to the transitory nature of existence; to life and death. It is time suspended.

Still life asks us to stop and consider the world anew and take simple pleasure in the familiar things in life and discover depths in it. It urges us to look closely and observe. Something that we are not used to doing anymore. Still life contrasts with our lives today which are dynamic, moving and constantly shifting.

Melissa wants to make these images more permanent, to freeze time. The animals depicted in this series are all critically endangered species, illustrating the fragility of time and it’s transience and highlights the turbulent relationship man has with nature. It’s a warning about mortality and our righteousness.

Website:

http://www.melissahartley.com.au/