beautiful of life No:20 (2024)

‘Beautiful of life No:22’ by artist Pongsatorn Tipasatien explores the tension between life’s transience and eternal beauty by adorning the universality of death in the most opulent and majestic way. The skull sculpture is entirely covered in microscopic teal and green beads, creating a texture that shimmers like precious metal. The eye sockets are filled with gold or amber-toned beads, intensely drawing the viewer’s gaze. A luxurious crown, set with large, emerald-colored gems, sits atop the skull, contrasting the skull’s meaning of mortality with the crown’s symbolism of power and permanence. By adding lavish ornamentation to the unavoidable reality of death, the artwork metaphorically expresses the value and dignity that humanity pursues despite its ephemeral nature, prompting deep reflection on the title, ‘Beautiful of life.’