"now i am become death, the destroyer of worlds," 2012-2017

"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" is a hand-drawn animation that explores the realities of living in the nuclear age. The title comes from J. Robert Oppenheimer's thoughts on witnessing the world's first nuclear test in 1945 - he is quoted later as saying this line from the Bhagavad Gita (verse 32, chapter 11) came to mind. The animation was created from over 2500 ink and watercolor paintings on aged newsprint and Duralar. See select excerpts below.

Towards Our Radioactive Future, mixed media
In planning for my animation “Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds” I created key frames that I will animate between, a moveable storyboard. Other collected ephemera include practice sketches, lists, research, timeline, and aesthetic possibilities.

Digital Collage Test - Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant, MN, video collage
In working on the animation “Now I am Become Death…” I created a series of aesthetic possibilities for manipulation of the images. While the animation is still a work-in-progress, I am making plans for how to expand beyond the 6”x 9” newsprint pieces, including adding archival footage.

Fallout Scroll , ink on rice paper
These images were painted in response to research for “Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.” They became many of the core images for the animation.

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Kelley Meister is a fiscal year 2016 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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