Totenkopf 

Konstantin Korobov’s “Totenkopf” presents us with a skull, formed from coral, barnacles and fossils. These symbols—the skull, a memento mori, and the ancient sea creatures, symbols of time—speak of mortality. The skull has appeared in various contexts throughout history, from ancient Roman mosaics to Renaissance vanitas paintings. Each time, it is a stark reminder of the transience of life. Here, the coral and fossils add another layer, evoking the vast expanse of geological time. We are prompted to consider not just individual death, but the eventual end of all things. Like tears from the skull's eyes, droplets fall into the sea below. This evokes a psychological state of melancholy, a deep sorrow that resonates with our subconscious awareness of mortality. Consider this image, a visual chord struck through time. As you look, let the cyclical rhythm of life and death echo within you.