A Memorial to Designer Tobias Wong

JUNE 5, 2011

Wong's Ballistic Roses 

The controversial and brilliant young designer, Tobias Wong created works that challenged and stimulated the minds of those who interacted with it.  The pieces have a beauty in their direct simplicity, in their twisting of the expected into something provocative, in the messages and  meanings he conveyed by his choice of materials and context. 

Designer Tobias Wong

A perfect example of his elegant wit and vision lies in the design below; an engagement ring with the pointed end of the diamond facing outwards.  In twisting our expectations in such a simple, yet transformative manner, Wong expressed volumes of meaning with a simple dot of punctuation. 

Killer Diamond Engagement Ring by Tobias Wong

In Bullet Poof Quilted Duvet (below) Wong's use of ballistic fabric in an otherwise normal bed covering allows us to re-evaluate our ideas of physical and emotional comfort and protection.  Similarly, the material transforms the message in Wong's Kevlar roses (shown at the top of this post.)

Tobias Wong, Bulletproof Quilted Duvet, 2004, ballistic nylon, cotton, and cotton flannel; Collection SFMOMA, gift of Josee Lepage; © Estate of Tobias Wong; photo: courtesy SFMOMA

Context was manipulated brilliantly by Wong as well.  In "Indulgences", a project he collaborated on with Ken Courtney, founder of Ju$t Another Rich Kid the iconic items below were cast in gold.  Without context, the items below are just golden replicas of mass produced items from the 1960-1980's.  Factoring in their cultural relevance reveals complex and potent messages.    

Indulgences

When Wong took his own life in 2010, the world lost a wonderfully creative mind and a future of clever and compelling work.  Using one die for each day of Tobias Wong's life to create a portrait of the designer, Frederick McSwain used Wong's own kind of clever manipulation of meaning, materials, and context to make a meaningful, moving and thought provoking memorial for his friend.  

"DIE" Frederick McSwain Installation Time Lapse from stephen dirkes on Vimeo.
A time lapse film by Stephen Dirkes for core77 of Frederick McSwain's, "DIE" installation at Gallery R Pure "Broken Off Broken Off" group show in memorium to Tobias Wong for NY Design Week 2011. Music by Twi the Humble Feather.

obscure object films
NYC 2011

The finished portrait

A closer look at the dice making up Wong's portrait

For more on Tobias Wong, visit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/fashion/27Wong.html

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/in-memoriam-tobias-wong/?ref=fashion

Musicians pay tribute to Clifford Brown at His Burial Site

Trio honors Brown with performance: A trio of musicians gathered at Mount Zion Cemetery
to pay tribute to jazz great Clifford Brown. (06/25/11)

A Cemetery remains relevant only when it is involved in the life of the community it serves.  More and more people choose to lay the remains of their loved ones to rest in places because they want them to be in a place that is peaceful and surrounded by life.  However, while scattering remains on mountain vistas and sandy beaches my satisfy our desire for a resting place surrounded by beauty and life, these places are inconvenient for us to visit and can change into housing developments or shopping malls over the years.  

The ideal is to have a permanent place of rest that allows for us to commune with our dead and allows for the variety and life of our communities to play a part as well.

I have written in the past about community involvement in cemeteries through that arts and by incorporating activities such as bicycling.  Here is a wonderful example of a jazz tribute held within a cemetery in Wilmington, Delaware.   

To the left of the gravestone marked “Clifford Brown,” three musicians played a tribute today to the Wilmington jazz legend who died at age 25.
Part of the annual festival held in his honor, the jam session was attended by about a dozen people at Mount Zion Cemetery where drummer Tom Palmer, guitarist Dexter Koonce and trumpet player Tony Smith played.
“It’s the first year of trying to start something to keep his memory alive in a different way,” said Harmon B. Carey, the executive director of the Afro-American Historical Society and president of Friends of Mount Zion Cemetery, both of which co-sponsored the event. “It’s different to have a jam-session in a cemetery.” - DelawareOnline

Vaga Luma: A Memorial Website project by Hagar Ben-Yishay

There are many competing memorial websites vying for the attention of grieving families today.  Some are offered by funeral homes, some through arrangements with providers with ties to funeral homes, and others that are completely independent.  Many of these sites try to be everything to everyone, with the aim of becoming the market leader, the facebook of memorial sites.  Strangely enough, facebook itself has shown little interest in courting online memorial attention.

  

Indeed, for site to provide the searchability and availability that would allow friends and family to find the memorial without being specifically told where it is, or offer useful information about funeral service times, it would almost have to be the one site everyone visited.

Unfortuately, in the race to appeal to everyone, the design of these sites has become very generic, even while the unique stories of the deceased are emphasized.

Time will tell if one universal player can end up the clear favorite, but in the mean time, it is refreshing to see a design for a memorial site that embraces a more idiosyncratic, whimsical and personal vision.  I’m referring to the Vaga Luma memorial site project, the work of designer, Hagar Ben-Yishay.  This site would not be easy for everyone to use or understand.  It features a specific vision and metaphor that might not appeal to everyone, but this is what keeps it from looking like a generic corporate entity, and what makes it so appealing to me.

Ms. Ben-Yishay has gracefully agreed to share a conversation about her project with us.

Pat McNally:  What were your goals in creating this project?  What can we gain by having a site like this? 

Hagar Ben-Yishay:  Memory commemoration is the subject of expensive heart of every person who experienced the loss of a relative or a friend. 

We are all related, one way or another, to death. It follows the life of us all - and we all have to face it in the end. When deciding to preserve the history and legacy of a relative or a friend, different people have different needs. In the physical world there are many, varied options.

By utilizing the Internet's power at preserving data and providing a simple user-experience, this project tries to answer the human need to preserve the memories and essence of a person who is no longer alive.

PM: Did you draw inspiration from any other memorial or other sites, or work in other media in creating the functionality and feel of this site?

HBY: My inspiration for this project, both visual and theoretical, lies in the fact that nowadays, aside from his physical presence in the world, every person has an online presence in the virtual plane as well. While the presence in the physical world is temporary, the presence in the virtual plane is eternal and everlasting.  This gap inspired me create a place, supernatural and magical in his nature, that unites and combines the two - the familiar, mundane, substantial world,

and the yet to be fully explored, infinite virtual plane.  The encounter between the two is an organism like place, a living being that grows and thrives with each and every memory added to it.  During my research I found fascinating sites dealing with human memory, not necessarily in the context of death, such as:"Post A secret" project, in which the users can design and post their secrets, on line, over postcards...

http://www.postsecret.com

What I love about this project is the fact that anyone can share his thoughts and feelings with the world, then people from all over the world  can read them and identify with the secret thought of a complete stranger... 

Other project that I love is " Petsematary". This project was created by "Noah" Association, which is a Society for Animal Rights...The project goes against the killing of animals by the fur trade and fur industry. The users are welcome to "adopt" an animal a light a memory candle for her.

The project was designed by the talented Ben Ben Horin, Which also instructed me during my work on Final Project. http://petsematary.fork.de/

It was important to me to create a place that is a transition between worlds, the world of the living and world of death. I wanted to create a neutral space, it can connect to different people, different cultures and different religions. A place where they will  feel comfortable sharing with others their personal memories.

PM: The site has the feel of another reality for us to wander through and reflect on our memories.  Would you consider adding other interactive places to post memories or other activities in this world?

HBY: In fact, when I've created the project, I decided to introduce a small and personal world. So the environments and actions that the site offers are currently limited. The project, as noted, was created during my studies at Shenkar Collage (final project) and therefore the time at my disposal was not enough to develop the site more than you can see. 

Of course, if I had the resources and time –I would happily return to the project, to delve deeper into it and improve the experience of wandering the world.

PM: What are your thoughts on the phenomena of Virtual funerals, held in virtual worlds.  Are they a means for us to come together in a new way, or another means for us to cocoon and disconnect with the real world?

HBY: I believe that since the Internet is a virtual space, accessible from almost anywhere at any time– such rituals as Virtual funerals are more than justified to me.  I do believe that Virtual funerals(or any form of on-line social activity) are a new form for people to come together in a new way, share stories and memories and assist each other in good times and bad...

PM: What role do you see for art in helping people deal with overwhelming issues like death and loss?

HBY: I personally believe that each of us has his own way of dealing with death or loss.

Art can be one way of coping and could provide a good therapy.  Whether its photography, drawing, writing or design, it can help in many ways in dealing with loss, death or difficult periods in life.

Eventually, everyone finds their own way to mourn and digest the loss of a loved one. People who find trouble in expressing their feelings verbally might find them easier to express in other forms – visual or otherwise.

PM: What is next for you as a designer?  What kinds of projects would you like to design?

HBY: Recently I've started working at "Nascent" studio, as a user experience designer.

I still have a lot to learn, considering I only recently graduated.

I would be happy to "step out" of the boundaries of the computer screen and start to design for different interfaces, such as the iPhone iPad and devices which offer a more human, direct interface.

Also, because I really love to learn I'm planning to study for an MA in design, probably abroad.  I would also be interested in learning more about the field of physical computing – which I find exciting and fascinating...

I would like to invite all the readers to come and say hello on my Facebook page, twitter or personal site.

Facebook: Hagar Ben Yishay (hagarbenyishay@gmail.com)

Twitter:@hagaraby

My personal portfolio:http://cargocollective.com/hagara

Designer Hagar Ben-Yishay

A Film Tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen

The brilliant designer, Lee Alexander McQueen was honored last night with a posthumous Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design award at the British Fashion Awards.  The ceremony opened with this film, featuring many of McQueen's designs, directed by Nick Knight, styled by Edward Enninful, and featuring an orignial soundtrack by Bjork.

Sebastian E.: Looking at Life and Death

The work of designer Sebastian Errazuriz is remarkable in both its elegance and power. Looking at life and death through his eyes does more than remind us of our mortality; it helps us to grasp these overwhelming issues in a beautifully intuitive way. Though Sebastian's work is witty and playful, do not be fooled into thinking that it is lighthearted or flippant. Along with its elegance, Sebastian's work holds the power to heal and to inspire change. My sincere thanks to Mr. Errazuriz for allowing me to share this work on The Daily Undertaker.

The Boat Coffin

THE BOAT COFFIN 2008

Wood, stainless steel motor, fabric, acrylic paint, polyurethane

Sebastian aboard the Boat Coffin. What kind of voyage will we be taking in such a craft? What spiritual anchors are employed on this lifeboat?

Death is The Only Certainty In Life

DEATH IS THE ONLY CERTAINTY IN LIFE
South Beach, Miami 2009

A plane flies over South Beach with a banner that reads: "Death is the only certainty in life". The original phrase intended for the project read: "We are all going to die”. Nevertheless the Federal Aviation Administration decided to censor the project due to the alarm such a phrase could create amongst the population. A series of phrases related to the awareness of death and life were sent to the airline for the approval of the FAA. “Death is the only certainty in life” was allowed. Its shorter version: “Death is the only certainty” was not allowed. -(Artist Statement)

Do artists have an societal obligation to remind us of the unpleasant realities we ignore? If so, what is the best way to communicate a message like this? One might argue that this statement written in the sky is an obvious fact that is not news to anyone, but certainly the FAA had concerns about it.

Would this message have a different meaning if the sky was overcast, rather than a beautiful blue?

An Attempt to Understand a Statistic

Statistics can be deceptive, even when accurate. When we hear how many have died in a natural disaster, or how many billions are spent on this or that, our minds haven't even wrapped around it, let alone our hearts. Sebastian's next project helps us with both.

AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND A STATISTIC
Brooklyn, New York 2009

1100 white crosses are planted into the ground in a waterside park in DUMBO. A group of 40 volunteers forms a line and starts walking forward, planting a cross in each step until the meadow is turned into a temporary cemetery. The 1100 crosses represent the number of people who die in NYC every week. The installation attempts to create an image that illustrates this number and helps us understand the inevitable statistic of life. - (Artist' s Statement)

Memorial Of A Concentration Camp

This final piece was my introduction to Sebastian Errazuriz, via Charles Cowling's Good Funeral Guide. This work is perhaps the most powerful, elegant and healing memorial I have yet encountered. To even approach an issue this painful and disturbing takes a great deal of sensitivity and tact. To accomplish what Sebastian has accomplished involves a wisdom and humanity that we can all aspire to.

First, a little background information from a post 'The Killing Fields, Political violence on the Soccer Pitch' by David Keyes on his blog, Culture of Soccer .

Prisoners stand on the terraces of Chile’s National Stadium in 1973

One of the most well known instances of political violence occurring in a soccer stadium occurred in Chile. Shortly after seizing power in a military coup, dictator Augusto Pinochet rounded up many thousands of his political enemies and took them to the National Stadium, where they remained for several months. Conditions in the stadium were awful, with torture common. Many murders were also carried out at the stadium. A Chilean commission studying the torture later offered even more details:

[T]he room for medical treatment was sometimes used for [torture]. Firing squads were simulated and other cruel techniques were employed. As a rule the prisoners were subjected to constant and intense interrogation.

The representatives and medical representatives of the IRCC (International Red Cross Committee) have found that many prisoners show signs they have undergone psychological and physical torture.

This Commission also concluded that a number of executions took place inside the National Stadium. Culture of Soccer

-from The Killing Fields: Political Violence on the Soccer Pitch by David Keyes

http://cultureofsoccer.com/2007/02/14/the-killing-fields-political-violence-on-the-soccer-pitch/

MEMORIAL OF A CONCENTRATION CAMP

Santiago, Chile 2006

A 10-meter magnolia tree is planted in the center of Chile’s National Stadium where dictator Pinochet in 1973 imprisoned thousands of political prisoners who were tortured and killed. After planting the tree, the stadium doors are open to the public as a park; offering a space to stop, look again, and remember.

An impossible, cathartic soccer match played before 20.000 people, closes the project after a week of activity. - (Artist's Statement)

Sebastian Errazuriz

SEBASTIAN ERRAZURIZ (1977)

Chilean born, New York based artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz seeks to create works that can remind people of their mortality, invite them to look again at their lives and question at their daily routines.

His obsession with the dichotomies of life and death are present in his sculptures, public art works, consumer objects, furniture and even fashion.

Selected one of the top emerging designers by I.D magazine, he has also been chosen Chilean Designer of the Year, and received multiple awards by design competitions, and the international media.

His large scale avant-garde public artwork has received critical acclaim. His unique pieces have been incorporated in over 40 exhibitions including Tokyo, New York, Paris and Barcelona. His portrait on multiple magazine covers and hundred of articles showcasing his work, illustrate the interest of the critics and media which follow closely every one of his new projects.

Born in Santiago, Chile and raised in London, Sebastian followed art courses in Washington and film courses in Edinburgh, Design in Santiago and later received an MFA at New York University. At age 28, Sebastian and the Campana’s were the only living South Americans to be auctioned at Sotheby’s Important 20th Century Designs. His design work currently forms part of several international private collections.

Based in New York and with offices and workshops in Santiago; as an artist Sebastian is currently preparing public urban art installations for New York, Madrid and Santiago. As a designer, he is creating products for clients ranging from the design shop of the Museum of Modern Art in New York to private commissions and interiors. Faculty member and university teacher Sebastian has regularly participated with personal editorial columns in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. - bio from website

for more of Sebastian's thought provoking work, visit his website, Meet Sebastian.com

Virtual Funeral Part 2

http://tributetothesojourner.wikispaces.com/

Since my first post on Virtual Funerals, I have come across several more. Here are some highlights: First is a tribute page http://tributetothesojourner.wikispaces.com/ for the virtual friends of a virtual character whose real life counterpart died. This site includes many links to places where 'The Sojourner" spent her time, and many shared memories and eulogies posted by her friends. This is very similar to the phenomenon of tribute pages that are posted for real people, and Myspace pages that perhaps began when a person was alive, but continue after death as memorial pages.

http://trinity.fooroo.co.uk/2008/03/19/kelise-hailey-i-miss-you/

Next is a screen shot of a virtual anniversary memorial service, and a friend's thoughts upon the occasion:

Tonight in SL is the one year memorial service for Kelise Hailey, she was a young transsexual woman whose struggle became to much for her to bare. She committed suicide. She was my friend.
I owe my own life to Kelise. When she left us I was in a very dark place, torn between this world and something else. Losing her fixed my resolve to stay for good. No matter how low and depressed I feel, no matter what happens in my life. I made her a silent promise and I will keep it. I keep a candle lit for her in SL to remind me that no matter what happens, no matter how dark the days might seem for me or anyone else. You're never truly alone.
When I'm quiet and alone my thoughts often drift to her, a year on and I still can't hold back the tears. I miss you Kelise.http://trinity.fooroo.co.uk/2008/03/19/kelise-hailey-i-miss-you/

http://victorianaesthetic.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

Finally, here are some thoughts shared on the passing of another SecondLifer, and his virtual memorial service:

Most of you out there will have probably known of an internet friend who passes away. Someone whom you never met but who you spoke to, argued with, laughed with and generally had some form of conversation with. You may not have known them other than a name on a board or you have have shared things with them about your real life. And when that person is not longer there are postings and comments about them and how they'll be missed. Today we learnt that the player behind the SecondLife avatar Shucks Valkyrie had died from a heart attack there was an impromptu memorial service held in the cemetery of the Tombstone, Arizona sim, his most recent place to be. I've never attended a virtual funeral service before. It was odd yet it worked. The sim manager said some words of remembrance and then someone started the words to Amazing Grace. Each line was delivered in chat, completely unprompted, yet there was no duplicating of lines as it was taken up by mourners. Someone even kicked in with a recorded audio version of it. I only met Shucks a handful of times but he was always having fun and making others laugh. He will be missed. http://victorianaesthetic.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

These online funeral services are powerful reminders of our need as humans to gather together to say goodbye. Together we share the burdens of sadness, and the gifts of memories whether we are in a funeral parlor, a church, a tavern, or in cyberspace. This is something we need to do together.

At Novodevichy Cemetery, the Ordinary Trumps the Grand

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2976611990033992640rAiXjD

Raisa Gorbachov Monument at Novodevichy Cemetery with Columbarium niches in background

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/russia/moscow-novodevichy-convent.htm

Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Cemetery (Новодевичье кла́дбище) is Moscow's third most popular tourist site. It has a park-like ambience, dotted with small chapels and large sculpted monuments. The cemetery was built next to the Novodevichy Convent immediately upon the convent's completion.
The cemetery was first used primarily as a burial place for Moscow's feudal rulers and church officials. Later it came to be used for Russia's intellectuals and merchants, while in the 20th century, it was the burial place for many of the Soviet Union's most well-known citizens. Today, the cemetery holds the tombs of Russian authors, playwrights, and poets, as well as famous actors, political leaders, and scientists. More than 27,000 are buried at Novodevichy. -from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/russia/moscow-novodevichy-convent.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Grave_N._S._Krushchev.jpg
The Grave of Nikita Kruschev "We will Bury You!"

While the monuments of the famous and powerful provide a wonderful history and art lesson, these photos of the niches of lesser known Russians, taken by Dedushka Nomto at Novodevichy Columbarium, are quite striking as well. The changes brought about by time and the elements give these portraits the haunting quality of distant memories. Perhaps this documentation of ordinary life can teach us more important lessons than the broad sweep of history.

http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html

http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html

http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html

For more photos by Dedushka Nomto, visit http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html