Wat wil je worden als je later dood bent?
A project by Dylan Eno which gives solution to the question ‘What do you want to become when you have died?’ The project proposes a porcelain design solution for the future use of mortal remains from the resomation industry and proposes a retro-future funerary object in which the porcelain objects and other personal expressions can be stored. The project highlights a future change in perspective towards death and inspires people in the present day to think about how they want to be remembered in the future. The funerary object takes many references from across time periods but all rooted in Dutch history.
Resomation which is a future way of body disposal is a process in which the body is dissolved in a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide. Resomation leaves pure calcium sulphate behind as this does not dissolve. The calcium phosphate is in this project used to make objects as forms of individual representation. Resomation will likely this year (2022) be legalized by the Dutch funeral law as a new form of corpse care.
Calcium sulphate and porcelain make because of their chemical structure a strong bond together. Adding calcium sulphate to a porcelain mix makes the procelain stronger so it can be casted in smaller shapes and also makes the porcelain slightly translucent. This way objects can be made from the remains of the resomation industry.
Funerary object
The brass object which can be viewed below proposes engraved questions which during your life help you think of an meaningfull object in which you want to be casted when you have died. The object serves as a modern memento mori (Latin for 'remember that you [have to] die'). Later on the casted object can be placed back into the funerary object and can be further customized.The engraving reads:
Mijn naam is
Wie zijn mijn gerelateerde
Zo zie ik eruit
Mijn meest waardevolle herinnering
Levensles die ik wil meegeven
Mijn meest dierbare bezitting
Mijn grootste wens
Mijn bijdrage aan de wereld
Hoe ik herinnerd wil worden
Wat ik wil worden als ik later dood ben
The object has a rubber watertight seal making the object water resistant and shock absorbing. This way the object can be transported and placed where ever wanted.
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Because of the use of brass and glass the funerary object takes clear refference from the victorian mourning brooch but also becomes water and to a certain extent fire resistant, giving security to a person that he or she wil be remembered in excactly the way they desired.
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Close-up of the backside. The inner plate is rotatable taken inspiration from victorian mourning brooches. This way the inner plate can be rotated according to the angle of the sun and the angle in which the object is placed.
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2 objects made from the remainings of the resomation industry. The bracelet is a replica of a wedding bracelet. The tile is meant to be carried by an heir, in which someone can leave a message behind.
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Showing how our perspective towards death has so drastically changed since the 12th century.
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Mourning brooches
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Graftrommels, a dutch invention used between 1850 and the 2nd WW. Sometimes used as grave replacement.
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Customisation options.
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Engravement options.
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