In this profound meditation on mortality, art, and human consciousness, artist and photographer Quinn Jacobson explores the intersection of death anxiety and cultural violence through the lens of Colorado's Indigenous history.
Using nineteenth-century photographic processes to document sacred Tabeguache Ute sites and ceremonial plants, Jacobson reveals the echoes of history that still resonate in these landscapes. His abstract paintings serve as visceral expressions of existential struggle, transforming the psychological weight of death anxiety into raw, emotive forms.
Drawing on Ernest Becker's theories of death denial and contemporary Terror Management Theory, Jacobson weaves together personal narrative, philosophical inquiry, and visual art to examine how awareness of mortality shapes human behavior and drives cultural conflict. From his experiences as a military photographer to his struggles with generational trauma, Jacobson's unflinching honesty brings theoretical concepts into sharp relief through lived experience.
The book's twenty essays tackle fundamental questions about existence, creativity, and the human condition, while over one hundred photographs and paintings serve as both historical documentation and metaphysical exploration.
Through this multifaceted approach, Jacobson illuminates the psychological mechanisms behind cultural violence while suggesting paths toward greater understanding and empathy.
"In the Shadow of Sun Mountain: The Psychology of Othering and the Origins of Evil" is not just a book about art, photography or history—it's an invitation to confront our most fundamental fears and examine how they shape our world. For artists, scholars, and anyone grappling with questions of mortality and meaning, this work offers both challenge and solace, a reminder that in acknowledging our shared fragility, we might find our greatest strength.