Frances Thompson (age 16)
Impington Village College
Title : Death at your shoulder
Category : Mass murderer, The Black Death (Plague)
Highly Commended
FT : This is a double self portrait I created to show the intimate proximity with death experienced by medieval peasants and nobility alike during the black death. I tried to capture the atmosphere of superstition and paranoia in the twisted positions and intense, furtive expressions of the figures. The two identical people represent the conscious, living being (sitting), and the presence of their imminent death within them, depicted standing just at their shoulder, waiting patiently for the inevitable as if preparing to prey on their living counterpart at their weakest hour.
Judges comments : Artistically striking image concerning the Black Death. Masterfully portrayed through choice of colour and texture.