In pursuit of middle knowledge: An enquiry into painting as a means of understanding the presence of death denial in social norms by providing a secular space for critical reflection on the relationship with death, dying, and the dead body
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2024-04-24Author
Lawrence, Robbie E.
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Abstract
This practice-based PhD is an enquiry into painting as a means of understanding the
presence of death denial in social norms by providing a secular space for critical reflection on
the relationship with death, dying, and the dead body.
This thesis posits that painting might create a space of critical reflection, reimagining still life
as a type of experiential painting. These paintings contribute to discourse regarding premodern
art history and a new approach to still life painting since it has adjusted the
relationship between painting and the object by using a multi-pronged approach in the studio,
using a material link between theme and making. The paintings employ objects to continue to
inform the work in an optic, theoretical, and material way and use the sight-size technique,
like a more typical still life painting might employ, however the paintings are repositioned on
to the floor to reflect the viewer’s body and therefore role in interacting with the painting.
This creates a type of experiential painting that could serve as a critically reflective space,
addressing death denial by way of triggering mortality salience and hence the dual defence
method with relevant themes.
The studio research practice developed a multi-pronged approach to still life painting
that expanded understanding via experimentation with material in order to approach the
painting as an object with specific intent to interrogate the research question, particularly in
its exploration of the concept of the visual void. Additionally, both the painting and the act of
painting became an application of Maurice Blanchot's cadaver in Two Versions of the
Imaginary via the use of the historic en grisaille technique, allowing the painting, as both an
object and an action, to be an exercise in middle knowledge: a state of complete repudiation
and acceptance of death. This research project explored relevant philosophical psychology
and historical literature in order to understand the nature of modern death denial in Western
society, specifically focusing on the phenomena of psychic numbing and its relationship to
avoidant behaviour and related social systemic causation regarding fear of death, dying, and
the dead body. It attempts to remain secular in execution and avoids overt reference of an
afterlife or perceived moral judgement in dying which might be used to ameliorate fear of
death or inflate death denial. This work aims to assist in development of psychic imagery beyond death denial (and
psychic numbing) behaviour in that it may present an opportunity for realisation of said
behaviour by the viewer -— by inducing discomfort — or provide the opportunity for more
advanced critical reflection on the viewer's relationship with death, dying, and the death
body.