Artist：Candy Chang
Date：2010~
Location：Originally installed in New Orleans, then expanded through a toolkit tocommunities in many other countries including Mexico, the Netherlands, and Kazakhstan. Walls are currently being planned by communities in South Africa, India, Singapore, and beyond.
Media/Type：Primer, chalkboard paint, stencils, spray paint, chalk, abandoned house
Commissioner：Self-initiated
Researcher：Peter Morales
In this project, a chalk grid is first stenciled on the wall onto which the words ““Before I die I want to _____” is written with blackboard paint. Passersby can use chalk to write directly on the wall. The project is about creating a public space for contemplation about remembering what is truly important to you. This idea came about in the space of a few months; the artist and a few of her close friends each suffered the loss of someone they loved very much. “Those months made me very aware that life is brief and tender, and that [the living of life] should not to be delayed,” said the artist.
The project has resonated with so many people and it shows how powerful our public spaces can be if we are given the opportunity to share their feelings with one another. It’s about understanding your neighbors in a new and enlightening way and remembering why you want to be alive in the world today. “Before I Die” walls have been created in Mexico, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, the UK, and beyond, and they have featured various languages including Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, Kazakh and French.
The wall has been the recipient of hundreds of kind messages and requests from people around the world who want to make walls in their communities. This wall is turning into a global participatory art project and expanding to cities around the world. The project brings people together to realize that they have differences but also share a great many things. |
