David Maisel - Library of Dust

A striking collection of typographic images depicting cremated remains of the inhabitants of a mental institution.

Maisel found these unusual containers at Oregon State Insane Asylum, kept in a series of rooms were almost 3500 canisters, each one housing the remains of an individual interned at the Asylum at some point between a period of almost a century (1883-1970).  All of which were unclaimed by friends or family. On the face of things the images are a simple documentation of an object, without context it's easy to dismiss them as relatively mundane. However in looking deeper into these images it is intiguing to consider each canister as an extension of the 'inhabitants' being. Beautiful in a natural sense; they appeal visually with the intriguing, contrasting patterns of corrosion some resembling natural phenomena - a skyscape, crashing waves. From others impressionist forms can be inferred - though it may just be me seeing Monet in some of these. But they are also interesting in a metaphysical sense, the unique 'personalities' of each urn being an extension of their being and, possibly, of their occupier's soul. 

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