Pie 

Karl Knaths crafted this mixed media collage titled ‘Pie.’ It depicts a still life with a distinct symbolic resonance, marrying everyday objects like a teapot and a slice of pie with the deeper currents of cultural memory. The imagery is domestic and inviting, yet it’s overlaid with fragments of text, including a reference to Mother's Day and words like 'World Prosperity'—mundane elements elevated. The 'pie', seemingly simple, harkens back to the ancient symbol of the 'wheel of life’. We find the wheel represented as the sun in ancient Egyptian iconography, with the same cyclical connotations. The slice taken from the pie might signify a part of life’s journey, a moment in time, reminiscent of the memento mori tradition where slices of time are used to evoke temporality. Knaths is delving into the collective subconscious, pulling forth images and words that evoke a sense of comfort, but, simultaneously, acknowledge the transient nature of existence. It is a symbol not of death, but of continuous change and renewal.