Día de los Muertos in Crimson and Gold
My most recent hand painted leather binding is dedicated to the most vibrant celebrations of life and death, Día de los Muertos. This Mexican tradition has spread to other parts of the world, serving as a Momento Mori between the living and the departed. It is far from being a somber or macabre celebration, but rather a joyful one of the cycles of life. So is my present binding, featuring bold colors that remind of sugar skulls, colorful floral decoration and a dynamic composition that wishes to transmit something visceral, beyond the visual - a good feeling of dancing and playing music.
The binding is merging traditional macabre iconography with a celestial elegance. The composition spans onto the front and back covers, the spine acting as a symbolic axis between the earthly dance and the spiritual transition.
The front cover features a "Catrina" woman skeleton figure adorned in a floral crown and flowing golden robes. She is seated in admiration and peaceful acceptance of the afterlife, holding an hourglass as a reminder of tempus fugit, the fleeting nature of time.
In the background, the Keeper of Silence, draped in a white mantle, acts as a symbol of the passage of time, guarding the mysteries of the transition between the two worlds.
On the spine, the Axis Mundi is represented, featuring the Tree of Life and a winged angelic figure, symbolizing the union of opposites and the central pillar of existence that connects the celestial stars above to the roots below.
On the back cover the energy shifts into movement. Two figures dance under a crescent moon and a radiant sun, connected by celestial constellations. This represents the eternal cycle of day and night, life and death, a joyful "Dance Macabre".
You can see a short clip of this binding on my Instagram page here .