Suporn Shoosongdej
Abstract :
“Verse: Revisiting the Anxiety of Death in Liquid Modernity” is a video art piece exploring time, decay, and impermanence through the slow submersion of a water bowl. This imagery symbolizes human existence dissolving into modern society’s relentless flow, gradually consumed by forces beyond control—time, social expectations, and rapid transformation.
The work draws on key philosophical perspectives on death. Heidegger’s “Being-towards-death” (Sein-zum-Tode) suggests that while death is inevitable, modern life obscures its presence. The sinking bowl reflects this unconscious drift toward an unacknowledged end (Heidegger 1927). Sartre sees death as devoid of inherent meaning, urging individuals to define their own purpose (Sartre 1943). The descent of the bowl serves as a stark reminder of those who passively surrender to life’s currents. Bauman’s “Liquid Modernity” describes a world of instability, where death, once integrated into life’s cycle, is now denied. The image of the sinking bowl encapsulates this struggle against impermanence, only to be inevitably submerged (Bauman 2000).
Beyond Western philosophy, the work resonates with the Buddhist concept of “Maranasati”, the contemplation of death as a path to mindfulness. The bowl’s descent is not merely about loss but an invitation to embrace impermanence and live with intention. In a society that suppresses death’s presence, Vanishing Vessel urges viewers to confront it—not as an end, but as a call to live meaningfully before being carried away by time.
Objectives :
1. Reflecting on Impermanence and the Inevitable Change of Life
The slow descent of the water bowl serves as a visual meditation on impermanence. Just as all living beings undergo transformation—aging, loss, and eventual death—this piece invites viewers to confront the transient nature of existence. In a world that often seeks to preserve youth and permanence, the work encourages acceptance of change as an inherent part of life. By witnessing the bowl’s gradual submersion, audiences are prompted to consider their own relationship with time, decay, and the inevitable process of letting go.
2. Critiquing Modern Society’s Avoidance of Death
In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, death is frequently hidden from view—sanitized, postponed, or ignored. Unlike traditional cultures that embraced death as a natural part of life, modern society often isolates it, treating mortality as an inconvenience rather than a reality. This video art challenges that avoidance through a simple yet profound metaphor: the sinking bowl. It urges viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths of mortality and question how contemporary culture engages with—or suppresses—discussions about death. By bringing the unseen to the surface, the work disrupts the illusion of permanence that society tries to maintain.
3. Encouraging Self-Reflection and the Application of Memento Mori in Life
Through its looping format, this artwork reflects the cyclical nature of existence—birth, life, and dissolution. Inspired by the Buddhist practice of “Maranasati” (mindfulness of death), the piece serves as a reminder that time is fleeting. Rather than inducing fear, it encourages introspection and a deeper awareness of how one chooses to live. By embracing Memento Mori, viewers are invited to see death not as an endpoint, but as a call to live with presence, intention, and purpose before ultimately being carried away by the currents of time.
Conceptual Framework :
1. Impermanence and the Passage of Time
The slow submersion of the water bowl represents the inevitable flow of time, decay, and the transient nature of existence. Just as everything in life—youth, stability, and even identity—eventually fades, the work serves as a meditation on change and the human struggle to accept impermanence.
2. Modern Society’s Denial of Death
In contemporary culture, death is often hidden, avoided, or treated as an abstraction. This piece critiques how modern society suppresses discussions of mortality, contrasting it with traditional worldviews that embraced death as part of life. The sinking bowl acts as a stark reminder of what society tries to ignore—the certainty of an end.
3. Philosophical and Spiritual Reflection
Drawing from existentialism and Buddhist thought, the video encourages self-reflection on life’s meaning. Influenced by Memento Mori and “Maranasati” (mindfulness of death), it asks viewers to see mortality not as something to fear, but as a motivation to live fully and intentionally before being carried away by time’s relentless flow.
Process / Methodology :
Techniques and Materials :
1-Channel Video Installation, Color, FULLHD Video, without sound
Duration: 6.30 minutes, Loop
Result / Conclusion :
“Verse: Revisiting the Anxiety of Death in Liquid Modernity” offers a haunting visual meditation on our fleeting existence. The video installation captures a water bowl slowly submerging—a delicate metaphor for how we ourselves are gradually engulfed by time, expectation, and the shifting tides of contemporary life.
In our accelerated world where mortality remains an uncomfortable whisper, this work boldly invites confrontation with our deepest existential fears. The sinking vessel embodies the human condition—suspended between resistance and surrender, between clinging to permanence and accepting dissolution.
Drawing from both existentialist thought and Buddhist wisdom, the piece challenges our cultural denial of death. The bowl’s submersion becomes not merely a symbol of loss but a mirror reflecting our own precarious position—are we merely drifting with life’s currents, or actively creating meaning before we too disappear beneath the surface?
“Verse” transforms death anxiety into a powerful call for presence. By witnessing impermanence, viewers are invited to consider a profound question: how might acknowledging our mortality teach us to live with greater purpose and awareness? The work offers no definitive answers—only the gentle suggestion that in facing our inevitable dissolution, we might discover how to truly live.
References :
• Bauman, Z. (2000). Liquid modernity. Polity Press.
• Heidegger, M. (1927/1962). Being and time (J. Macquarrie & E. Robinson, Trans.). Harper & Row.
• Sartre, J.-P. (1943/2007). Being and nothingness (H. Barnes, Trans.). Routledge.
• Thanissaro Bhikkhu. (2012). The lessons of mindfulness: What Maranasati teaches. Metta Forest Monastery.
