Andy Warhol - Vanitas

Dozens of artworks, including rarely seen ephemera from his TimeCapsules, explore Warhol's fascination with religion and death.

American artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was a devout Byzantine Catholic who attended church regularly, especially after surviving a near-fatal assassination attempt by writer Valerie Solanas in 1968 and following the death of his mother in 1972.Vanitas exploresthe artist's obsession with temporality, spirituality and astrology, highlighting a lesser-known facet of his work, comprising paintings and drawings of skulls and self-portraits that evoke 17th-century genrevanitas.

Spiritual themes such as impermanence and time are addressed through multimedia art and archival material from his major collection project, Time Capsules, where Warhol kept reference materials for his work and ephemeral mementos from his life.

Vanitassituatesthese pieces in dialogue with 17th century Dutch genre prints from the Rijksmuseum. These allegorical prints remind the viewer not only of his mortality, but also of his obligation to lead a humble life. With a gleaming gold cover-where Warhol is shown laughing with a skull over his shoulder-this publication plays on the paradoxes of his hedonistic life, his fascination with death, and his unwavering Catholic faith.

Language: English

Pages: 160