The still life work of Sam Taylor Wood

The still life work of Sam Taylor Wood, whether it be photographing the decaying nature of a dead rabbit or a selection of fruit, exemplifies the powerful yet almost horrifying principal of time. Her work within itself acts as a pure representation of time. A link is drawn been then and now, life and death…
If one were to only see the last photograph of the decaying matter which was once a rabbit, they may be slightly shocked by the gruesome qualities of the image. However, it is merely a photograph of dead rabbit; something that can easily be overlooked or forgotten. It is Wood's clever use of comparison between then and now which evokes such a strong, vile yet beautiful representation of time; or life for that matter.

What I admire the most about this series of photographs is Wood's attention to the minor details of the image. After all, it is not only the rabbit that shows signs of decay through time. The wall/backdrop also shows signs of age, perhaps implying how the decaying of one form may effect the other. In a similar sense, the unaltered state of the peach draws the viewer to question the unpredictable nature of time. How can something with such a complex structure decay so easily when compared to the simple organic matter of a peach.
From looking at the work of Sam Taylor Wood, my intentions are to show the principal of time through still life. Whether this be through photographing fruit, animals, skulls, flowers etc.. i am yet to discover. However, this will give me the opportunity to continue with my studio work whilst focusing on a style of photography completely different to fashion.