VANITAS portrays an existential view of nature and the beauty that is present in the natural process of decay. VANITAS is a recognition that the transience of life forms an integral part of the world around us and ultimately provides us with the undeniable triumph of death.

The concept is born of the Baroque artists who sought beauty in ugliness and reflected their findings through pieces of elegance and refinement. The artists depicted this opulence alongside the transience of earthly life and their fascination with death through moralistic symbolism. Hope uses this same symbolism to persuade acceptance and to find beauty throughout life's journey. 

Hope chose to present her work on a furniture which represents our fascination with appearance and, quite often, our desire to change it. Once sat at the vanity table however, the visitor's reflection integrates itself into the composition as a reminder to seek out the natural beauty in the passage of time. The table's surface describes the transience of life through blooming and withering flowers, while insects symbolise life's brief passage. The large photographs invite close inspection of the texture, structure and rich colours of the decaying matter and their inherent allure.

UGLY NATURE: VANITAS is a collection of works, comprising:

- Large Format photographs
- Mirrored Vanity Table, hand painted in oils.