industrial finishes and impersonal insignias often come together to create — not an urn, not a final resting place, but — a generic container. cookie-cutter graves. not much has changed in the 9,000 or so years they’ve been around. in response, ‘shelf’ — a collaborative design platform based in mexico, headed by ricardo casas — invited 13 artists and designers of different disciplines to propose new objects. objects that questioned death, rather than accepted it.
urn designed by marco colin
all images courtesy of rodrigo chapa
urns is the third collection shelf has presented in latin america’s leading art fair, ZONAMACO diseño. it was developed by designer ricardo casas , who, along with 12 other authors, generated this interesting reflection of death. every artist’s approach was unique. their processes were different. their outcomes were as personal as one’s individual relationship with the end of life. catholicism, ancient egyptian tradition, alien abduction — some of these urns are restful. some are fun. all pose questions. finally, with this project, funerary urns (first registered in china, 7000 b.c.) have experienced some much needed reevaluations.
urn designed by derek salgado
urn designed by edgar orlaineta and perla valtierra
urn designed by enrique jezik
urn designed by ricardo casas
urn designed by roxana ortega and jesus hernandez
urn designed by iker ortiz
urn designed by marco colin
urn designed by marco colin
urns designed by cartu
urn designed by ricardo casas
urn designed by ricardo casas
urn designed by enrique jezik
urn designed by edgar orlaineta and perla valtierra
urn designed by derek salgado
urns designed by moises hernandez
urn designed by moises hernandez
urn designed by mauricio nava
urn designed by manuel munoz
urn designed by tania candiani
urn designed by jorge yazpik
project info:
creative direction: ricardo casas
graphic design: eric león
copy editor: enrique giner
product photography: rodrigo chapa
styling: oscar olivas
site photos: jaime navarro
for more info: [email protected] shelf.mx
shelf showroom
anaxagoras 928 colonia narvarte ciudad de méxico cp 03100
art news
jenny holzer confronts the reality of gun violence with rockefeller center light projections
#art
the first-person accounts serve both as an acknowledgement of communities impacted by gun violence and an invitation for dialogue.
the first-person accounts serve both as an acknowledgement of communities impacted by gun violence and an invitation for dialogue.
cross-stitch street art: portuguese artist combines digital and analog design
#art
the artist's most recent pieces include the element of screws, which function as the structure and anchor points for the wool to weave around.
the artist's most recent pieces include the element of screws, which function as the structure and anchor points for the wool to weave around.
reuben wu uses drone LEDs to illuminate bolivia's remote landscapes
#art
wu uses the piloted aircrafts to create aerial light sources for his ongoing series 'lux noctis'.
wu uses the piloted aircrafts to create aerial light sources for his ongoing series 'lux noctis'.
chronicles: massive exhibition of JR's work opens at the brooklyn museum
#art
the multimedia exhibition traces the artist's career from his teenage days until present day.
the multimedia exhibition traces the artist's career from his teenage days until present day.
Some of the urns here are too playful for such occasion as death. Can’t imagine what kind of person will disrespect a probably beloved family member’s death by putting up such urn to score points with their hipster friends or whatever.