Levity | Tombstone Design
When I think about death, a specific poem comes to mind called The Egg by Andy Wier. In it, a man dies and discovers that time does not exist because it was constructed by humans. He is a part of every human, and has lived many lives on Earth. This poem always makes me feel so small, and makes me think that nothing matters.
So why should we live our lives, or die so seriously?
I was inspired by the works of David Byrne and Alexander Calder to create a jungle gym tombstone with five unique organic forms that remind us we don’t need to take life so seriously.
Each form represents a different part of human needs in life: physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self. Visitors are encouraged to touch, sit and play on the forms to interact with death in a fun and approachable way.
It is placed on the levee in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, my hometown.
People like to gather here to watch the river and play on the grassy hills.
