Geraldine Spilker's latest project, titled 'Memento -- After Time Elapsed,' might be comforting to some, and disturbing to others.
The French-German design student has found a way to bind ashes to resin, creating a tangible, material object made from your loved one's remains. The project offers an alternative way to hold onto ashes, rather than the conventional urn. According to Spilker, the urn is an "alien object, most commonly made from synthetic material." Spilker's creations offer a more interactive method of remembering the deceased. She explains, "Memento makes it possible to hold, caress and carry around the ashes. It moves away from the static existence of an urn, to a gentle dynamic of picking up, touching, playing and observing."
Though objects can be held and carried around, they are also completely biodegradable, should the family ever decide to "let go" more completely.
Commemorating Cremation Designs
Geraldine Spilker's 'Memento' Remembers the Dead
Trend Themes
1. Cremation Keepsake Objects - The trend of creating tangible objects from cremation ashes offers a more personalized and interactive way to remember the deceased.
2. Alternative Memorial Methods - The trend of using unconventional methods, such as binding ashes to resin, disrupts the traditional funeral industry by providing new options for commemorating loved ones.
3. Eco-friendly Remembrance - The trend of creating biodegradable objects from ashes aligns with the growing demand for sustainable funeral practices and offers a greener alternative to traditional urns.
Industry Implications
1. Funeral Services - The funeral services industry has the opportunity to offer new and innovative ways of remembering the deceased, such as the creation of cremation keepsake objects.
2. Memorial Products - The memorial products industry could incorporate the trend of using alternative memorial methods, like binding ashes to resin, to create unique and customizable products.
3. Green Burial Services - The green burial services industry can capitalize on the trend of eco-friendly remembrance by offering biodegradable options for holding and dispersing ashes.