The Skull Series posters are composed of thousands of elements scanned from vintage books, newspapers and catalogues, primarily from the period between 1880 and 1920. They are a mix of wood block prints, engravings, etchings, lithographs and various other printing techniques. The tiny elements are carefully placed so as to create the silhouette of a human skull. Each poster has its own theme, and depicts the skull of a person consumed by a specific subject.

There is a long history of skulls in art. The medieval concept of memento mori (Latin for “remember that you will die”, roughly) served as a reminder that life is short, and was the foundation for an output of huge amounts of paintings, sculptures and objets d’art. While memento mori can be seen as a warning not to think yourself too important in the grand scheme of things, it can also be read as an plea to joyously celebrate your time, as it is finite (although this is mostly true when viewed outside of a religious context).

The Mexican Día de Muertos also relies heavily on skull, skeleton and bone imagery, but with a focus on celebrating the lives of those who have passed, and inviting back their souls to spend time with their families for a short time. Bone decorations are added to breads, and the names of deceased loved ones are painted on ornate sugar skulls, or calaveras, as an offering to entice their souls to visit the realm of the living.