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Liz Gridley - 'How Do You Want to Be Remembered?' - oil on aluminium with metal lace frame
How Do You Want to Be Remembered?
Oil on aluminium with metal lace frame by Liz Gridley.
Painting size: 37.5 x 30 cm (14.8" x 11.8")
Frame size: 40.8 x 33.2 cm (16.1" x 13.1")
The urn, the vessel, the container - western death care brings forth many opportunities for ‘products’ and items of reverence which can hold all or no value depending on the person involved. Ashes or ‘cremated remains’ also have their own role as both bodily and inorganic - they can be held or scattered, kept in wait for a partner or venerated on an altar.
Cremated remains (also known as cremains) are the result of the bone fragments and other resulting fragments (coffin ash, clothing ash etc) being processed mechanically to uniform dust texture. Cremated remains can be kept at home, are often scattered in places of meaning, held in columbariums (above ground urn storage memorials) or interred at cemeteries. It’s worth noting that cremains are approx. 2-3kg per person, are constituted mainly of calcium phosphates with some other minerals including potassium and sodium, and a high PH which harms seeds and young plant roots if planted in them directly.
Contemporary death tech looks to innovate how we can facilitate mourning with urns such as integrating digital footprints (integrated with online mourning, tribute pages, photos & videos accessible via QR codes) augmented reality, LED lighting and highly customisable experiences. Contemporary products again get involved with ashes being able to be made into products as broad as plant life (BiosUrn), jewellery, precious stones, vinyl records, artworks, tattoo ink, fireworks, they can be sent to the moon and more.
Learn more on Liz Gridley’s website.