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

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.