When we think of accounting, our first thoughts often turn to finances. Balancing books, profit, loss, earnings, budget, capital, turnover. Accounting is our language of value, but could that value represent more than money?
My belief has always aligned with the concept that accounting is far more than ledgers and financial statements. Accounting is the act of ‘making an account’ thus, what this account may be is entirely within the remit of the accountant.
‘Taphophile: Accounting for Death’ is an exploration of the influence of accounting in death. Beginning as a photographic exploration of the realms of the dead, I began to realise that I was collating a ledger of memory through death. Every memorial is an entry and recognition of a life once lived.
This introduces the question of what can accounts of death teach us about life?
With this the project is being developed into an interdisciplinary exploration of the interconnection of life, death, art, and accounting.
While where this path will lead is not yet etched in stone, the intent will be the creation of various medias, academic and public, that will ask just how much “death and taxes” really have in common…
Accounting for Humanity 