Contemporary photographer Tara Sellios has created a compelling body of work titled 'Ask Now the Beasts' that examines the complex relationship between life, death, and the inherent beauty found within mortality. Through her meticulously crafted images, Sellios aims to create photographs that eloquently express the totality of human existence, with particular emphasis on life's fundamental instinctive and carnal nature when confronted with fragility and impermanence.

The artist's exploration of morality in relation to mortality builds upon a rich tradition that has maintained a significant presence throughout art history. This thematic approach spans from religious altarpiece imagery of centuries past to the work of vanitas painters who specialized in symbolic representations of life's transience. Sellios deliberately manifests melancholic themes through beauty, precision, and seduction, compelling viewers to engage with her work despite its grotesque and morbid nature.

Through these powerful images, Sellios aspires to reveal the restlessness inherent in a life that is consciously understood to be temporary and vulnerable. The series title 'Ask Now the Beasts' draws its inspiration from the Biblical text of Job, establishing a spiritual and philosophical foundation for the work. The symbolism present within these photographic frames conjures ideas about the cyclical nature of Earth in relation to the concept of harvest and renewal.

The visual narrative presents a transformation from abundance to decay, where what was once a time of prosperity, richness, and eroticism is now represented through offerings that have withered on the vine. Sellios employs dramatic lighting techniques, with light striking from the left side of her compositions as if to indicate the passage of days that have grown too long. This lighting choice serves as a metaphorical representation of time's relentless progression.

Despite the themes of decay and mortality, Sellios's work carries an underlying message of hope and transcendence. The earth may pass away, but this does not suggest an absence of hope, as the artist believes that suffering and death ultimately lead to transcendence and transformation. Within the carefully orchestrated dance between light and darkness that characterizes her compositions, beauty and celebration can still be discovered and appreciated.

The photographer's images draw deliberate inspiration from religious art traditions, with compositions reminiscent of altarpiece structures. These works are carefully constructed with complex references and allusions to stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, and various other genres of religious imagery that were historically intended for meditation, storytelling, and reverence. This connection to sacred art traditions elevates the photographs beyond mere documentation, transforming them into contemplative works that invite deep reflection on the nature of existence and mortality.