Third Eye pinhole camera exposes the dead, mocks the living

Here you have latest pinhole camera by artist, Wayne Martin Belger -- a good boy raised on a steady diet of crucifixion imagery and the scorched-earth wrath of divinity. This work entitled Third Eye, a study of "the beauty of decay," uses precious metals like titanium and silver to expose the memory of time onto film, sheering the 150 year old skull of a 13 year old girl. Sample image posted after the break for those who dare.

[Via Make: and Art Diabolique]

[L @ Sep 24th 2008 6:03AM]

Seriously, using a real human skull for that is just disgusting and tasteless if you ask me.

[deyanimay @ Sep 24th 2008 6:17AM]

I know what you mean, many people these days have no respect for the dead and hardly any for the living either.

[Intrepid @ Sep 24th 2008 7:05AM]

Isn't there some kind of law against this? Like anything?

[allislost @ Sep 24th 2008 7:07AM]

You two are so fucken boring.

[L @ Sep 24th 2008 7:45AM]

Oh noes, a oh-so-cool teeny with a pentagram avatar called me fucking boring.

[Arran @ Sep 24th 2008 7:47AM]

I wouldn't care if someone used my skull like this... you know why?

Because i'll be dead.

[Taylor @ Sep 24th 2008 7:47AM]

There are shops that SELL human bones
eg
http://www.boneroom.com/

So, I assume there's very few restrictions on this.

It's likely that the head was found in a mass grave, not stolen from someone's own tombstone.

[Izzy @ Sep 24th 2008 9:24AM]

@L You are more of a dullard than boring. On the other hand, your unique moniker is very boring.

Guys, who really cares if it's a real skull? It's not like they chopped it off her living head to use.

[Asha @ Sep 24th 2008 9:58AM]

You are quite genuinely boring. *snore*

[benderillo @ Sep 24th 2008 9:58AM]

Talk about a victimless crime.

[vz @ Sep 24th 2008 10:17AM]

dude, shes dead. its just a damn piece of bone. its worthless. get over it. damn guys.

[OneLove @ Sep 24th 2008 11:04AM]

This is what will happen to us when John Conner and the resistance fail.

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 24th 2008 12:06PM]

Really L? How would you know that "allislost" is a teenager? How do you know he's not older than you? Grow up. I have a pentagram as my avatar (granted, it is album art), but does that mean anything? People like you are the scum of Engadget, judging people by their name or some other crap like that.

[m @ Sep 24th 2008 12:45PM]

@Taylor: There are also shops that sell fake bones. Anyone who's taken an anatomy class knows that. The fake ones are easier to find, and much, much cheaper. Somebody's trying to "ask questions," and like the stereotypical art student he is, hasn't thought much about what the answer might be. I like the Cure as much as the next guy, but I'm obviously uncomfortable with this. People have made art from human bones for centuries, but it's usually done with reverence and taste, and not for empty shock value. Here is a famous example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary

She might be dead and have no idea what's happened to her remains, but this cheapens all of us. If you're so into death, treat it with some respect.

[Jamison @ Sep 24th 2008 6:34PM]

@M You know I think I'd rather my skull be used as a camera than made a part of some aristocrat's coat of arms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ossuaire_2.JPG

But I guess using the bones of anonymous poor people to big up your family has more "reverence and taste".

[Basic @ Sep 24th 2008 7:53PM]

Wow... just wow...

not the art... all you douchebags.


I'm donating my remains to an art school... if I'm not cryogenicly frozen or turned into a robot.

[Zeus @ Sep 25th 2008 7:02PM]

I agree that using someone's skull for your own 'rebel' attention whoring is tasteless. But then again I guess it's working, horray for the 'artist'.

It is somewhat heartening that the only real defender of this is Allislost with the cliche pentagram. I hope all that mascara and emo music is a phase...

Oh, and Zeus.:God = fail.

[tstreesapx @ Sep 24th 2008 6:10AM]

I have no idea what's going on...

[Cronick @ Sep 24th 2008 10:44AM]

Think French Fries... In Amsterdam. Where they put mayonnaise on the french fries. Mayonnaise!

DON'T PUT ANY DAMN MAYONNAISE ON *MY* FRENCH FRIES!

That's just plain un-American.

Ketchup. That's what I'm talking about!

[Zeus.:God @ Sep 24th 2008 12:12PM]

I put mayonnaise on my fries... Actually, I use more of a home made dip that I call mayonnaise, that's made from an egg yoke (no white), and red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and vegetable oil.

[jonatho @ Sep 24th 2008 3:07PM]

Mmm... Mayonnaise.

[Bad Beaver @ Sep 24th 2008 6:14AM]

This is why I think about having myself cremated once the time comes. Then my friends can spread me into the sea or blast me off into space or whatever, snort me up. Or do to my remains whatever else I gave my consent for. At least my skull will not be abused 150 years later by some artist who likes to drill holes in things.

In short: It feels a tiny little bit wrong.

[Greg @ Sep 24th 2008 10:06AM]

A little bit wrong may be an understatement! Browsing through his site, here are some of the other cameras he has made:

- A camera with vials of HIV infected blood that passes through the camera and acts as a red filter.

- A camera with a baby heart preserved in formaldehyde

- A camera with a piece of the World Trade Centre on it

- A camera with deer antlers attached

This is some very provocative art, that's for sure!

[mOe @ Sep 24th 2008 10:46AM]

You'd think that, until you understand what a cremation involves. Sure, your skull won't be abused 150 years later. Rather, it'll be promptly pummeled and ground down by some random person\machine until it's in small enough pieces to actually be cremated and turned into dust, just like the rest of your large bones. No offense to those that choose cremation, but it just isn't as beautiful of a process as we'd all like to think.

Personally, I'd take this over something like that. Even if I did not consent, at least I'd be doing something worthwhile post-mortem (well, along with organ donation, of course).

[morpheo @ Sep 24th 2008 12:50PM]

Actually I love the notion of being reused once dead. It's not like I'll mind anyway when that time comes: I'll be too busy being dead!

[Mike B. @ Sep 24th 2008 12:56PM]

or drink your ashes thinking that it's chocolate milk mix and your spirit lives on inside them...

[ssrat_ @ Sep 24th 2008 6:17AM]

I have no problem with scientists using skeletons to find out about the past, investigate diseases and other things to improve knowledge.
But THIS is just for someones "art" and profit, if he was to use a fake skull and weather it then fine but this is just desecration (and I'm just an agnostic)

If one wants to bring up those in museums, that mainly falls under knowledge, and people can donate themselves.
Mummies, kind of the same, but also preservation considering the amount of grave robbers and the little care they showed for the deceased

If he was to use a relative, maybe, but a 13y old girls skull? I doubt he tracked down the relatives and asked for their permisson

[gad get @ Sep 24th 2008 6:57AM]

I agree with everything you're saying except the part about using a relative's skull. As it is, this "art" is very morbid, but if he had used the skull of a dead relative---at least, if it was someone he'd known---that would just be utterly disturbing.

[Martijn @ Sep 24th 2008 6:18AM]

What a load of bollocks:

"Belger wants the images to be “processed” through the dead girls “enlightened” view instead of his own personal photographic vision. This creates a unique relationship between artist and medium. Unlike other photographers, or artists for that matter, where the final image is all the matters, for Belger the process and the tools are just as important. In fact, artist, artwork and process are completely integrated. In some ways he is modern day shaman who uses sacred relics to conjure visions and cast spells."

I hate this pretentious arty-farty claptrap. None of what is actually communicated relates directly to the quality of the work, and is just empty handwaving designed to distract from the fact that he uses an overly complex process to create a mediocre work. The more empty bull this kind of stuff is cushioned in, the less talented the artist. Oh, and the picture is a 'shop.

[allislost @ Sep 24th 2008 7:46AM]

You're forgetting what art is really about.

It's doesn't matter if his work is good or bad, what matters is that it creates an emotion in the people who see it and that's what it did in you... or else you wouldn't have said anything.

[Derek @ Sep 24th 2008 9:08AM]

While what you say is definitely true, allislost, you'll eventually find the only statement a pentagram makes is fashion.

Rotate it 180 degrees and you'll have made a statement. You see far fewer pentacles than you do pentagrams and the meaning has much more depth. And you'll get the attention from the uninformed mistaking it for a pentagram. It's nice when people wear their misconceptions on their sleeves.

[allislost @ Sep 24th 2008 9:58AM]

The upside-down PENTACLE is a statement in itself. I put the passion of my work above all else, even my health.

I'm glad you have trouble seeing because i didn't think i would ever explain the reason behind that image.

[allislost @ Sep 24th 2008 7:43PM]

Since Fire(Passion) and Earth(Prosperity) are in the bottom of a normal pentacle, putting them on top puts those two above all else in my life.

But...

Now I changed that to the image of Baphomet that could mean "Baptism of Wisdom", "The Father of Understanding" and my favorite, "absorption of knowledge" which coincides nicely with that fact that I'm studying like crazy.

[Coreoworeo @ Sep 25th 2008 6:33PM]

Oooh, Fire and Earth!

[Bendy @ Sep 24th 2008 6:26AM]

I'd rather my skull got turned into something beautiful and useful than got buried or burnt, spread on a bunch of roses and pissed on by a dog.

[Bad Beaver @ Sep 24th 2008 6:41AM]

That's pretty much your choice and just fine if you like it. Thing is, as long as the girl in question (still assuming it's not all hoaxy) gave her permission to donate her remains to the arts, this project would be fine too. Ok, it would still be pushy (LOOK WHAT I DID! SCARY, HUH?!) and tacky (see the emeralds? Oh please...) yet it would not be the shameful act of desecration it represents without said consent of the donor.

[vadubgeek @ Sep 24th 2008 6:30AM]

How does one acquire the skull of a 13-year old girl? I'm sure places sell bones for research purposes but I would imagine they wouldn't sell to someone making a camera. There's pushing limits for the sake of art, but then their is just downright disrespectful acts that violate basic human mores. The remains of the dead are not toys.

[Adam M @ Sep 24th 2008 6:51AM]

OMG that is so cool i hope in 150+ years my skull gets chopped up and used in some sweet artistic manner. Probly wont be as im male and 25 and counting so meh.

[Koray @ Sep 24th 2008 6:52AM]

What do you expect from an idiot like this: http://www.boyofblue.com/about/altar.jpg

K.

[gad get @ Sep 24th 2008 6:59AM]

That is one seriously disturbed mind. By the way, thanks a lot for making me look at that!

[Jeremy K. @ Sep 24th 2008 9:31AM]

Link possibly/probably nsfw or anything

[ifoughtfate @ Sep 24th 2008 6:56AM]

That's a cool looking picture.
If I die, I am totally cool with someone doing that with my head....

just, you know, for the record. Incase it comes up.

[gad get @ Sep 24th 2008 6:58AM]

Don't you mean, WHEN you die, not IF?

[Ogo @ Sep 24th 2008 7:00AM]

Is that Janet Jackson's Superbowl nipple decoration on its forehead?

[B @ Sep 24th 2008 9:48AM]

Reading through these comments, I was getting upset. 13 year old girl's skull... turned into someone's art... then, I got to this comment. lol

[Dylan @ Sep 24th 2008 7:01AM]

I think that's seriously badass looking, but from a moral standpoint acquiring the skull of a 1800s thirteen year old girl simply to "mod" is a little questionable. I don't think I'd mind though if my skull was used for something like this (provided I'm not still using it), though I'd like my name in the credits.....and 50%..to my family.

[allislost @ Sep 24th 2008 7:17AM]

Dark Art FTW!

Yeah... this thing is badass.

i can't believe people are so against this... it's not like he's skull fucking it!

http://www.ubersite.com/m/39845

[PuBeLeSs @ Sep 24th 2008 7:17AM]

this might be weird, but i mean he uses it to develop the flim. its not just like dumb looking art. its really cool (well for like 20 min) but it was a good idea none the less.

[Eldiablo @ Sep 24th 2008 7:20AM]

I want that in my house, but using a version crafted from the skulls of bankers from the first decade of the 21st century.

[Sandy @ Sep 24th 2008 7:29AM]

Am I the only one who had to go to the MAKE article to figure out WTF was actually even going on? Does "uses precious metals like titanium and silver to expose the memory of time onto the film sheering the 150 year old skull of a 13 year old girl" actually make sense to anyone?

I totally agree with Martijn that this is pretentious artsy BS.