While coffins in the Western world tend to be pretty staid, Ghana has a historic tradition of creating unique and memorable coffins -- so memorable that they inspired Swiss-born, New York-based sculptor Olaf Breuning to commission a series of several special Olaf Breuning coffins for his own posterity.
As a sculptor, Olaf Breuning is extremely accomplished. The list of museums where his art has been displayed reads like a veritable who's who of major art galleries in the world, including the Saatchi Collection in London, the MoMA in New York and the MoCA in Miami.
The Olaf Breuning coffins are fascinating for their cartoonish and generally light-hearted quality. They stand in stark contrast to the drab and sometimes garish caskets that are routine in North America. The Olaf Breuning coffins showcases one way you can go out with a smile on your face.
Eccentric Cartoon Caskets
The Olaf Breuning Coffins Provide a Look into Historic Ghanian Tradition
Trend Themes
1. Cartoonish Coffins - Creating unique, cartoonish coffins is a trend in Ghanaian tradition that could inspire new funeral industry designs.
2. Personalized Caskets - Commissioning personalized, memorable caskets is a trend that could revolutionize the funeral industry by allowing individuals to truly express themselves in death.
3. Artistic Funeral Displays - Using art to make funerals more memorable and unique is a trend that could disrupt the funeral industry by offering more options for celebrating the lives of loved ones.
Industry Implications
1. Funeral Industry - The funeral industry could benefit from embracing more unique and personalized casket designs inspired by Ghanaian tradition.
2. Art Industry - The art industry could collaborate with the funeral industry to offer more artistic and creative funeral displays, bringing new opportunities for artistic expression.
3. Hospitality Industry - The hospitality industry could provide services for funerals that incorporate unique and personalized artistic displays, creating a new form of funeral event planning.