As Martin Luther King, Jr. said,¨You have to know, not fear, that some day you are going to die¨
This is not our usual conversation topic, it’s most often a sensitive issue.It is worth to think about it however, since one day we will reach the end of our cycle. (Click on the images to enlarge them)
why is this art object special?
there are five good reasons:
1.- It's an elegant sculpture to highlight your living space,
2.- But it can also be an urn.
We tend to overlook the fact that we too have an expiration date...
What usually happens is that our loved ones, those who stay behind, are not only very sad, but they suddenly find themselves faced with a number of unexpected chores and decisions that have to be taken, specially if your demise has not been discussed much.
So...
3.- It opens the door for a dialogue and lovingly, you can begin preparing your relatives for your moment of passage. This means, that by having the sculpture showcased in your house, it will spark a conversation, which after the first bewilderment, will help them assimilate the fact that death is also part of life...
Although losing a loved one is always very hard, their heart-breaking process will be less traumatic.
Another factor we don't usually think about, is that in such grieving moments, no one is in the mood to be looking for a decent looking urn...
So,
4.- While having this piece of art at home, you have solved for them this important issue.
And then, this sculpture has a special and unique feature:
5.- There is a crystal quartz standing in its center and light makes it glow from under. Even if the vessel is sealed and the ashes are secure inside, they will be imbued with natural light filtered through the quartz crystal. The ashes will not just be sealed in a dark chamber, light will illuminate the quartz and the ashes will lay arround it. This happens if you place the sculpture on a glass shelf, or alternatively push a button on its base - it has a battery operated halogen light inside.
We could see the crystal as the ¨light window¨
through which the spirit can go out and travel in the immensity ...
But long before your due time comes, you can enjoy lifting the lid to peek in and show your grand children the wondrous shining crystal...
If this sculpture fits in with your taste, I will be honoured to create one for you.
The Urn
¨In our art, we try to represent the essence of the serpent that is dreaming us,
the serpent mother of all things, the one that people can see, but in their own dreams¨.
- Pre-hispanic Mexican saying -
and you also have other options
If you have a special object you would like to keep inside, such as a stone, a little box, a piece of jewelry... instead of the quartz crystal, if you send it to me, I can place your jewel inside, before sealing the base. You will know it's in there and you will be able to peek through the narrow opening if you want to see it. Then, when the ashes arrive, they will be united with the object. Certain cultures placed precious objects next to the deceased to protect her/him through the journey: A power stick, a hat, his/her preferred food. High ranking aztecs, were even accompanied by an albino Xoloescuincle dog who knew how to guide them towards the Mictlan, the land of the dead.
For example...
on The inner wall - a Frase, a Poem, a Thought
The urn's inner wall can be painted brick red, which is the color of the earth, the traditional color tibetan monks wear and a meaningful color used by countless ancient cultures. But I could also use the color of your choice, even cover it with 24 karat gold leaf if you wish...I can also write something of your choice on the inner wall. It will not be visible however, only you will know it is there. Frase examples...« La mort est ma fondation, ma force, ma direction »- Michel Vinaver- “The warrior is one with infinity.”- Carlos Castañeda -
Option with decoration
This is an example of an exterior design. I work with different themes. It can be abstract or somewhat figurative - all in the imaginary. If, however, you want to let a tonality of your being be felt, write me something: a poem or a thought - so I can absorb it and produce a design for you.
How to display it
Choose a nice place for it in your house.You can displayed it with or without its base...Without it, if placed on a glass shelf, the quartz crystal will catch the light from below and you will know that during the day, it will always be glowing inside. If placed on its base, aside from highlighting the piece itself, you will be able to turn-on the built-in light to let you see the beauty of the crystal when you uncover the lid and peek in. When the ashes have covered the crystal, only the ashes will be blessed with the light.The third possibility is to slide out the floor from the square box, which is the pedestal, and the crystal will catch the day-light when placed on a glass shelf, without having to use battery-powered light.
And what happens with the urn when we finally take up residence in it?
Laws and customs vary from country to country...
You will have conveyed your wishes to your relatives, so when the time comes, they can either bury the urn, place it in the graveyard's vault/columbarium or use it to transport your ashes to the sea, to the mountain or to your garden...
Or, as it's done in some countries, the ashes can be kept in the urn at home: On the Tokonoma in Japan, on an altar in Mexico, in the living room in the U.S...
In that context, the sculpture helps to represent your transformation, maintaining a link between the spheres of consciousness.
Why try to cut-off completely the link with our ancestors?
It's a trend that alienates us from our family tree, from our history and from our roots. Trying to forget is not the answer for healing. Turning the page in our lives is a different matter: It's good to move on and to continue with our lives, but our memories and our past are part of us, they help maintain strength and balance within the clans, it keeps us balanced and energetically healthy.
In most european countries, unfortunately the funeral businesses have kidnapped our freedom to choose the destiny for our ashes...Urn specifications:
Made in... wherever I am. Now, it could be either in Mexico or in France
The vessel and the lid are hand made with fine woods of different varieties. The ones in this picture are tropical Mexican woods, Huanacaxtle from the tropics and Palo Fierro from the Sonoran desert. I try to use wood from trees that have fallen due to natural phenomena or that needed to be cut down anyway.
It is coated with an invisible oil-wax protection, so the wood can keep all its natural qualities.
Sizes: Since it is hand made, it is roughly 25 cm wide x 26.5 cm high (9 27⁄32 x 10 7⁄16 inches) without the base,
And 25 cm wide x 35 cm high (9 27⁄32 x 13 25/32 inches) with the base.
The urn accommodates a person weighing up to 85 kg (187 pounds).
That is, if they don't cremate him/her with the coffin. Ask the crematorium about that, since there are different ways to go about it.
The base has a battery operated light and these can be easily replaced. Don't forget to turn it off after you've looked inside...
The quartz crystal comes from Mexico
The gold leaf around the base of the quartz crystal is 24 karat gold
The artist
¨Back to Primordial Unity¨
is a Taoist philosophical concept that has influenced my life and my work
Martin Vinaver, a painter, sculptor, printer and photographer.
17 solo shows, more than 40 group exhibitions, a book published, 4 grants and awards and artwork in 3 museums.
Click on the bees to visit
the artist web site
I am also a Tai chi practitioner
doing moving meditation
(for over 33 years)
Click on the spiral to visit
the Tai chi web site
