Henry Hofman

Edmund Rice College

Dharawal Country

'de voor en de na' (the before and the after)

Photomedia

Printed ink on photo paper

Before we are born, where are we? After we die, where do we go?
My body of work examines the ephemeral nature of life; the transience of existence. Using the intricate language of decay and the interplay of void and empty space, it represents mortality and the unending passage of time. Colours that were once vibrant, textures that were once alluring and appetising, now dissolve into the abyss of decay and decomposition. This stark juxtaposition between vitality and dissolution communicates the inescapable destiny that unites us. I encourage the audience to contemplate life's fleeting beauty and the undeniable trajectory of our own death and demise. By capturing the very essence of transformation and decay, my intention is to showcase mortality, the unceasing flow of time and the evanescent quality intrinsic to the human journey.

My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Kathleen Ryan, Bad Fruit series; Marian Drew, Australiana Still Life series; Robyn Stacey, Empire Line exhibition; Richard Kuiper, Dutch Still Life in Plastic series.