The Executioner

This artwork is about Memento Mori.

Memento Mori is more than a phrase; it is a philosophy, a sacred reminder that death is not an end but a constant presence — a companion to life.

Rooted in ancient traditions and echoed through the centuries in art, literature, and religion, Memento Mori (Latin for “Remember you must die”) invites us to face the inevitability of our mortality with clarity, humility, and courage. Far from being morbid, it is profoundly life-affirming. In remembering death, we are taught to cherish life more deeply.

In my art, Memento Mori emerges not as a threat but as a whisper — from the bloodied blade of an executioner to the silent gaze of a saint, from a crumbling skull to the fragile beauty of a wilting flower. These symbols are not meant to frighten, but to awaken. They are reminders of time’s passing, of the vanity of ego, and of the urgency to live with meaning, purpose, and presence.

Memento Mori is found in the cracks of stone, in the eyes of forgotten statues, in the quiet of monasteries, and the roar of battle. It is the stillness before transformation. It strips away illusion, reminding us that titles, wealth, and power vanish — but what we create, what we love, how we live — those are our real legacies.

In a world obsessed with distraction and permanence, Memento Mori is a rebellion — a call to return to the essential. It asks not only “How will you die?” but more importantly, “How will you live?”