Kalaya Williams

My series is an investigation of death, asking the question, “What happens when we decompose?” I’ve always been interested in nature, specifically the darker aspects of it, such as insects and death. Through my works, I created pieces that represent these darker aspects alongside pieces that offer an opposing lighter aesthetic to form a juxtaposition between the grotesque parts of nature and the beauty of returning our bodies to the earth. 

I decided early on to make my series conflict with itself. This led me to experiment with mediums and practice methods that I probably wouldn’t have used otherwise. To create juxtaposing pieces, I used alternating materials, works with many layers and physical weight, compared to lighter pieces using mainly only watercolor. When I first began my series, I focused on abstraction and non-objectivity to convey the feeling of loss and confusion I imagine I’d feel when I die. As I progressed, I used watercolor and a light aesthetic to capture the beauty that comes with this process. Halfway through, I decided to incorporate a version of myself that would go through decomposition, thereby making the work more personal. I did this because I experienced the loss of a loved one this year, and by putting myself in the work, I directly faced the reality and inflexibility of death. Overall, doing this and making death the focus of my series helps me come to terms with the inevitable.