Indi Walter

Vitas

2020 | MFA Thesis Exhibition

Artist Statement

 

VITAS is a visual exhibition that addresses the idea of a posthumous legacy. The substance of a person鈥檚 life is composed of what they鈥檝e done, and what they become after death is determined by that substance. This exhibition is composed of 25 carved animal skulls and sculptures inspired by the concept of vitas, treating life as an opportunity to advance the next generation through life鈥檚 work. VITAS studies the idea of what happens after the passing of a being by applying embellishment, adornment, pigments, and carvings onto the skeletal remains of animals. By applying human influence to natural material, the animal鈥檚 experience becomes a vital part of the artwork. Bone density, size, condition, and abnormalities are all determined by how the animal lived. These factors are a major consideration in design and aesthetic choices in each unique piece.

 

 

Follow for more:

 

 

蜜桃影像 the Artist

 

Capita Mortua Arts is owned and operated by Indi Walter. Indi was raised in Kaneohe, Hawaii and currently lives and works in Fairbanks, 蜜桃影像. Indi works in a variety of media including clay sculpture, resin casting, printmaking, painting, ink drawing, bone carving, and woodwork. Indi graduated from 鈥業olani in 2013. She pursued a Bachelor鈥檚 of Fine Art at Creighton University (Omaha, NE C/O 2017) and a Master鈥檚 of Fine Art at the University of 蜜桃影像 (Fairbanks, AK C/O 2020).

Capita Mortua Capita Mortua means 鈥淒ead Heads鈥, a plural of Caput Mortum, 鈥渦seless remains鈥 or the leftovers of alchemical processes. This also refers to caput mortuum, the pigment known as 鈥渕ummy brown鈥 that was processed from human mummies ground into powder. This shade of reddish-brown is found in a handful of classical paintings and is associated with mortality and memento mori.

Indi Walter, courtesy of the artist