Momento (Maranasati), 2023
Maranasati, which translates to “mindfulness of death” or “contemplation of death,” is a Buddhist meditation practice that encourages individuals to reflect on impermanence and inevitability.
The large size of the tapestry intends to bombard us with a reminder of our own mortality, urging viewers to face discomfort and contemplate the fleeting nature of their existence. Through the seemingly sober and melancholic message, onlookers and invited to face fear and avoidance, inviting gratitude, spiritual growth, acceptance, and transformation.
As we contemplate death, we are immediately confronted with existential questions and the nature of the self. By facing this universal truth we accept and understand that all conditioned phenomena are subject to constant change and eventual cessation.
This, in turn, allows us to truly embrace the present moment and make the most of our lives. By realising control and embracing the unpredictability of our existence we are able to adopt a more aware mode of being.
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βIt is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.β
