Romancing the skull

About this book

Romancing the skull' is not about Death: it is about Bones -- head bones. It looks at the skull in art, asking the question 'What is that draws people to the skull?'. It explodes with colourful and creative images from the worlds of political satire, contemporary art and pop culture, with a sidelong glance at medieval depictions of the skull as a reminder of mortality, and at the ways other cultures celebrate the skull and its use in Halloween and the Mexican Dia de Muertos. Featuring essays by Gordon Morrison, Julie McLaren and Peter Freund, 'Romancing the Skull' explores our fascination with the skull and how it is used as a symbol across genres, mediums and traditions. 'Romancing the skull' is a show that is about us all, and what lies beneath the skin. Exhibition: Art Gallery of Ballarat, Australia (14.10.2017-28.01.2018).