We often emphasize our differences, celebrating diversity as a prevailing theme. Nonetheless, the one unifying aspect of humanity is death. While the ways in which we or our loved ones may pass away may vary, the inevitability of death itself remains inescapable.
The hourglass serves as a powerful symbol, representing the passage of time, the inevitability of death, and the opportunity for new beginnings as it is flipped over, marking the start of each day anew.
On my son’s shelf, among various knickknacks, rest a couple of exquisite hourglasses. These objects have not only served as a wellspring of inspiration for my sketchbook but also as a tranquil subject for contemplation, as the sand gracefully trickles down through the glass, marking the passage of time.
Mesmerizing. Marking time.
March. March. March.
Strange Ago, list 10 Intriguing Symbolism of the Hourglass, the most impactful being the Inevitability of Time, the delicate balance between life and death, the Fragility of Existence, the Limitations of Human Knowledge, and the idea of Carpe Diem.
“No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death.”
Ecclesiastes 8:8
The 1953 poem, Days, written and read by Philip Larken, is simple at first glance, and yet is exceedingly deep as it explores one of the great existential question, What is the meaning of life? Each day passes, in a repeated cycle. Until the end. Is life futile?
THE PROCESS:
Inspiration– movement of sand through an hourglass.
Procreate– hourglass illustration, frame by frame animation in Procreate (Luminance glitter brush, Tamar brush, & 6B pencil), exported animation as a .gif.
After Effects– imported animation .gif, textured paper, audio of Larkin’s reading of the poem, and Typewriter text effect.
Lessons learned? Typewriter effect was too easy, loved it!
and I need to read more poetry.
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