A Slice of Life (or Death)

Copper Plate Intaglio Print on Rives BFK Archival paper with silver gel pen

The concept of life and death has always been very captivating for me, especially to my young mind growing up. I wanted to show both sides of the lived experience within this piece. This served as my final project for my Introduction to Printmaking class. We were given the concept of an interactive print, and I wanted something that was fun, dire, uncomfortable and personal all at once. I made this “pie” consisting of life and death on the left and right sides, acting as an ISpy of existential dread and pure joyousness. I printed three of these pies, cut them each into 8 pieces, and then went around the classroom to my peers to pass them out. In order to get one, I treated it like a tarot card reading. I asked them an innocent (or intense) question, ranging from “Blue or purple?” to “How do you think you’ll die?”. I was shuffling the pieces while asking, and then giving them one once they answered. On each, depending on the side of the pie they pulled, there is “You lived!” or “You died”. On one special piece, chosen at random, I adorned with silver gel pen. This one declared “You’ve been saved!”. This lucky person escaped from the cycle of death and rebirth. I purposefully did not film me handing out the cards, as I wanted it to be as personal as possible. This project is no longer in my hands: it is left to the fate of those who were dealt their hand. I have the plate and further prints, but none of the original.