Stones of the Dead by Cecilia Lim

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Stones of the Dead

Gravestones of Dutch noblemen still lurk in the basement of St.Paul's Church inside the A'Famosa Fort. Many of them died from malaria and other tropical diseases. The Gravestone on the left has a skull and crossbones symbol etched into the top of the stone.

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Guest		09-Jul-2008 18:40
Part of me wants to say "good riddance" to the dead Dutchmen, who were probably in a rapacious mode when they came to Malaysia. For the most part, Europeans were in far-flung lands to plunder and to dominate, to be superior, to control, and so it seems fitting that the various indigenous diseases took them out. Perhaps it was just desserts? There is a great mood and light in this beautiful photo, and perhaps Mr. Georgh Cooke is looking on, feeling contrite (in case he hadn't come to Malaysia with good intentions)?

Cecilia Lim		04-Jul-2008 20:48
Thanks Chor Eng and Phil for commenting on how the ladies in black contribute to the image in terms of meaning for you. I made so many images of these 2 gravestones, but I kept coming back to this one because the presence of black immediately brought something foreboding to the image. I knew this image had more potential for expression. I loved both your interpretation of the women as people in mourning. Because these women were pretty much abstracted by their dark robes, I also saw that as a connection to something more sinister-the Grim Reaper.

Phil Douglis		04-Jul-2008 18:31
As Chor says, the women in black look like mourners, and your deeply shadowed images enhances the funeral mood. You also caught the perfect moment in time -- the tension in the space between the heads, the arm coming up to the face, define their feelings as they stand alone in their grief. You give us the feeling that they are visiting the stones of their loved ones, even if they are not.

Chor-Eng Tan		04-Jul-2008 12:28
The ladies in the background are dressed in black, as if the funeral is still on-going! Anyway, they add to the somber mood of the gravestones.

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