This is an oil painting I made, which is a replica of the painting titled “Vanity” by Pieter Claesz, in 1630. Claesz was inspired from the Flemish painters. In his words, “the wine of life runs out, the spirit is snuffed... for all your learning, time yet runs on”. This reminds me of the soaring high death rates this year, due to Covid-19. There is a sense of stillness in this painting, as if everything has gone quiet. The stillness is further enhanced by the old stopwatch, as if to say that that’s the only thing alive and ticking. The seconds tick away, and with every passing second, we are reminded of death. The skull vividly represents mortality, which is inevitable and unstoppable. However, the feather signifies hope & purity, as if to say that it’s not all gloom. The meaning of being in vain is portrayed more through the empty fallen wine glass, suggesting that it’s the end, that there is nothing more left in the glass. Although this is a copy of an original painting dating back to the 17th century, I felt this relates well to the emptiness that we have faced in this year 2020. With an unexpected pandemic wiping out a substantial portion of humankind, I feel the painting shows this concept well. I love the contrast of how 2 powerful symbols, ie a skull and a white feather are portrayed right next to each other. I feel it relates to how the deadly virus has wiped many of us away and caused havoc, but at the same time, we have stood up for each other and lit hopes in each other’s lives, by supporting one another. I feel the true spirit is to understand the power of death and that the human life is temporary, but also to realise how precious the life is while we are alive and to strive to stand up for one another during times of distress.