Why I Feel Drawn to Sugar Skull Art
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a beautiful Mexican tradition with roots in ancient Indigenous cultures of Mexico. For generations, it has been a time to honour loved ones who have passed away, celebrating their lives and remembering the connections that continue beyond physical death.
While I deeply respect that these traditions belong to Mexican culture and the rich history behind them, I have always felt a strong personal connection to the symbolism and spiritual themes they represent.
What draws me most to sugar skull art is the belief that death is not the end of our journey. The idea that the veil between the physical world and the spirit world can become thinner during sacred times resonates deeply with me. It reflects a belief held by many spiritual traditions around the world, that our loved ones continue to exist beyond the physical realm and remain connected to us through memory, dreams, intuition, signs, and spiritual experiences.
As someone who has always been interested in spirituality, psychic experiences, symbolism, and the mysteries that exist beyond what we can see, I find comfort in these ideas. To me, sugar skulls are not symbols of fear or darkness. They are symbols of remembrance, transformation, connection, and the continuing journey of the soul.
The vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and powerful symbolism found within Day of the Dead artwork transform the subject of death into something beautiful. They remind us to celebrate life, honour our ancestors, cherish our memories, and recognise that love and connection can continue beyond the physical world.
This connection is one of the reasons Mexican sugar skull art has become such an important source of inspiration for many of my designs. My artwork is created with appreciation and respect for the cultural traditions from which these symbols originate, while also expressing my own fascination with spirituality, remembrance, and the unseen connections that link us all.
Through Dream Machine 21, I hope to create artwork that encourages self-expression, tells meaningful stories, and celebrates both the beauty of life and the mystery of what may exist beyond the veil.
Jody Young
Dream Machine 21