It’s an honor to work with other artists, because they trust you enough to help them record and represent their work. I was contacted by ceramic artist Juliane Shibata to document an installation of one of her pieces, “…vita brevis,” which translates as “Life is Brief.”

The piece was a bit of a challenge to photograph, because it changed over time. The installation was created by a mixture of ceramic and real carnations; in the days following the installation, the real carnations began to wither, revealing the title of the piece. I came the day the piece was installed, and then returned 10 days later.

Juliane writes in her artist statement:
My botanical installations reflect on relationships between humans and the natural world. Flowers and plants have a defined lifespan – they grow, bloom, fade, and decompose. Ceramics are durable – they can last millennia. I am interested in the contrast between the transience of nature and the relative stability of fired ceramics, in beauty that can be both ephemeral and enduring.

I encourage you to click through and see some of her beautiful work.

ProjectJuliane Shibata Installation, "...vita brevis."Year2017