Faculty of Design

Illustration

Yudi Cao

Dying should be as easy as falling off a log

This illustration takes a contemplative dive into the truism "Dying Should Be As Easy As Falling Off a Log" by Jenny Holzer. It portrays a serene yet poignant scene in a forest where elements of life and its cessation coexist. A skull and a decomposing log, alongside sprouting trees and a resting deer, depict the natural cycle of life and death. The juxtaposition of growth and decay presents a tranquil acceptance of life' s finality.

“The artwork serves as a visual metaphor for the truism, offering a peaceful reflection on the inevitability of death as a natural progression, as effortless as leaves falling or logs tumbling. It suggests that the end of life, much like its beginning, is an intrinsic part of nature's rhythm — necessary, unceremonious, and devoid of struggle.”