The Culture of Display

Alan Stephen Evans
BA (Hons)
Photography
2006/07
Critical and Contextual Studies
Stewart Roberts
April 10th 2006
The Culture of Display
Peacocks and Flamingos
From the earliest times, objects have been placed on display. We could go back to the very
beginning and take the Christian belief that God made everything. If this were the case, it
may be the first example of an artist exhibiting his work. Moses scribed his ten
commandments onto stone. Was this an early example of an artist exhibiting his work?
Were the commandments meant as a guide to live one’s life or a trendy, contemporary
statement of the day? The subject matter that has been displayed has been varied. We
could make a link between the work of ancient Egyptians and that of the artist Damien
Hirst. Both preserved dead animals for exhibition. We could also make a link between the
Aboriginal cave painters to the modern day graffiti artist. Both painted symbols on walls
for expressing their identity, environment and culture. Displays have throughout history
evoked mixed reactions and had varying affects on people’s daily lives.
The transport system has seen a rapid development since the invention of the motorcar.
Before there were cars, lorries, and other forms of high-speed transport. The roads were
reasonably safe to stroll along. T he roads were in fact, carriageways or bridle paths meant
only for horse drawn carriages. The chances of an accident occurring were minimal. One
might see the occasional sign, milestone or boundary stone at the side of the road. There
was nothing for the traveller to look at save for the beautiful, unspoilt landscape. Compare
this with the chaos on today’s roads, airways and rail tracks. The world has been opened
up and we are able to travel from one end to the other in a matter of hours. We are
confronted at every turn by information, advertising, warnings and controls. Each of these
items has been prepared to maximise the chances of getting our attention. These displays
range from the basic road sign to enormous billboards. Large sums of money are spent on
updating them. They are seen as a necessary distraction.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of roadside
memorials appearing. These memorials mark the place where a
tragic accident has occurred. There is no other evidence at the
scene. The memorials take many shapes and forms. They juxtapose
the presence of mass commercialism and neon lights. Usually a simple
bunch of flowers marks the spot. Some contain headstones, crosses, oil
burners, poems, personal items, etc. The memorial tends to remain until it
fades away, is removed or overgrown by nature. For a time, the site of the
accident becomes as important as the actual burial site. The place where
death occurred becomes the focal point. Anniversaries are remembered there. The grave is
the final resting place but the crash site plays an important part in the grieving and
remembering process. Although the roadside memorial is a relatively new phenomenon,
we can look back in history and find examples of similar gestures.
Bunches of herbs have been found in the hands of mummies. In Greece in the sixth
century gardens were formed which paid tribute to Adonis. At the Festival of Adonis,
celebrated at midsummer Athenian women sang dirges over the death of Aphrodite’s
lover. They placed a figure of Adonis on the rooftop. Round this they placed earthen pots
filled with soil. The women planted fennel lettuce wheat and barley. The plants sprouted
rapidly and withered just as quickly. They believed that this signified the fate of all
vegetation. After its great beauty in springtime it fades early, dried up in the hot summer
of a Southern land. This is symbolised in the mourning for the early violent death of the
beautiful youth Adonis.
Throughout the World wars, soldiers have placed flowers where their comrades had fallen.
So much so that on battle sites throughout the world, a rich variety of flowers have
appeared. The poppy is the most recognisable and symbolic for the British armed forces. It
is used on Remembrance Day every year. Flowers have been used in art throughout
history. Vincent Van Gough painted irises, sunflowers and poppies. Salvador Dhali used
flowers in his surrealist paintings. Primavera by Boticelli depicts the Three Graces
surrounded by nature on a carpet of every imaginable flower. This may be
interpreted as symbolising life, birth, and regeneration. The presence of the
wind is dark. He is reaching for one of the graces. This could be
interpreted as symbolising the rape of the land, winter, death, and
destruction. The presence of innocence and its ultimate loss. A
contemporary version might feature a car in place of the wind. The carpet of flowers
replaced by a stretch of road. An innocent life taken before its time. In his book, ‘If We
The Shadows’, the photographer David Bailey includes a number of images, which focus
on death. One of the first images we see is of a gravestone with his namesake on it. We see
girls embraced and kissing with a skull between their bodies. The image ‘St Margaret’s
Cemetery’ shows a group of stone angels with a covering of snow. There are images of
dead animals, hands bearing deaths heads, crucifixes and images of Christ. This is
something, which has become apparent in my own work. It could be described as a morbid
curiosity similar to that when we slow down to look at the roadside memorial. As we grow
older, the prospect of one’s own death grows closer. My own reasons for focussing on
death, as subject matter is a conscious way of dealing with the fear I have for it.
There are a number of other photographers whose work features death as a
subject matter. David B Nance has been photographing roadside memorials
in America. He has also traced the history of roadside memorials. The
custom of marking the site of a death on the road has its roots in the Hispanic culture of
the Southwest, where memorials are often referred to as Descansos ("resting places"). He
makes a link between the memorials erected at the site where funeral processions paused
on the journey between the church and cemetery. He surmises that an association is
created between the road, the interrupted journey, and death as a destination. This is where
he believes the present day memorials found expression in the practice of marking the
location of fatal accidents on the road.1
Nance describes the first ‘Descansos as,
‘resting places where those who carried the coffin from the church to the camposanto
paused to rest.2
The symbolism or presence of flowers also has its roots here. Nance believes that some of
1
2
http://webpages.charter.net/dnance/descansos/index.htm
Ibid
the mourners would have been carrying sprigs of juniper, wild flowers. or small branches
of piñon. Someone would tie them together with a leather thong, then plant the cross in the
ground. This became a permanent reminder.
The roadside memorial could be interpreted as someone’s public exhibition. The items are
usually carefully arranged and face the road. They are almost always hand-made They
vary a great deal in form and style and are given a place of prominence. One could argue
that this display should remain a private matter. In placing the objects, there is a defininte
attempt to gain attention much the same as the advertising billboards do. The exhibitor
understands or even expects that the display will be seen. There is nothing being sold.
There are no obvious words to read other than the labels on the flowers. One would have
to stop and take the time to read these. They are not led by fashion or driven or affected by
media or commercial influences. Whilst the flowers exist and have a strong visual
presence, they are signifiers of a life taken. They remind us of our own mortality. They
confront us with the reality of death as an actual event that arrives for a particular person,
at a particular place, at a particular time.
Flowers have traditionally been placed on the graves of loved
ones. This was their final resting place. Following the death
of Princess Diana, flowers were placed at sites around the
world. This was to be repeated in the case of almost every
subsequent death of a celebrity or in the aftermath of
disasters. The Heisel stadium disaster, the London bombings
and the murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. In the
United Kingdom, grief had always been a private affair. Restraint and a stiff upper lip
were the norm for the upper classes. The working classes mourned and then held a
celebration of sorts. This is taken further in Ireland where the wake is a very lively affair.
These enormously publicised events appear to have had an impact on the public’s psyche.
One could argue that the working classes were more likely to take part in a public display
of grief. This had always been the case in the event of the death of a member of the Royal
Family. In the event of Diana’s death, it took the Nation by surprise. One could argue that
it becomes more emotionally charged when someone dies young. This is often the case in
car crashes. It is predominantly young males who are the victims.
On hearing of the death of Princess Diana, I took a bunch of flowers up to Kensington
Palace. It was early in the morning and there were approximately 5 bunches of flowers
placed on the railings. No one could have imagined the quantity of tributes, which were to
follow. It was an enormous outpouring of public grief. The events were to have a profound
affect on people all over the world. The following are extracts from a BBC website which
hosted reactions to her death.
Watching all the events on TV is very saddening. I feel a sense of loss yet I never
met Diana. It is very astounding to me how one person can touch so many lives.
Debbie R Lancaster, California.
When I heard of your death Diana, my life became more important. I know that
sounds strange but I had forgotten the things that you held strong and give to other
people. Now you have given us all something we had all lost in our feelings, LOVE.
You will live forever. Kevin
Such a great loss is felt all around the world, we pray for the two young princes. Your
mother was a wonderful woman. The Ramsden family, Seattle, Washington. 3
Some people felt a need to make a public display of their grief. Each year, flowers are
placed around a tree at the side of the road where Mark Bolan lost his life. Friends, fans or
family paying tribute at the place where the journey of life was interrupted. They could be
described as ‘Contemporary Descansos’. This is what the roadside memorials appear to
be. People react differently to this form of symbolism. There are those who argue that the
memorials are a danger and a potentially dangerous distraction. A county councilor from
North Yorkshire has denounced the memorials as ‘appalling’. Councillor Richard Thomas,
who lost his son Charlie in a crash in 1996, thinks the floral arrangements could distract
3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/diana/feedback.html
drivers and cause more accidents. He is calling on North Yorkshire County Council to ban
the shrines. He believes that the trend has grown from Europe. He points out that he is a
committed Anglican. One can only presume that he believes that it has its roots in
Catholicism. Although Mr. Thomas could be correct in indicating its origins, the growing
phenomenon does not appear to be the unique trait of any one religion or culture. 4
There is an ongoing debate amongst relatives of victims, parliamentarians, local
authorities and pro-active groups as to whether they should become legal. It is a highly
charged, contemporary and sensitive issue. At present, there is no legislation to allow or
ban roadside memorials or shrines. Memorabilia, activist groups, parliamentary papers,
etc, have begun to focus on these issues. A Hansard document in June 2000 reads as
follows
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and
the Regions what procedures exist for the erection of roadside memorials to
commemorate the lives of those killed in accidents; and if he will make a statement?
[123874]
Mr. Hill: Although Britain has a good road safety record there are still far too many
people killed and injured in road traffic accidents. It is for local highway authorities
to ensure that any roadside memorials to commemorate the lives of those killed in
accidents comply with the provisions of the various Highways Acts and Road Traffic
Acts and do not themselves become a road safety hazard either through obstruction
of the highway or a distraction to road users.5
Since August 2003, hundreds of new signs started to appear on British roads. Small
plaques, displaying a single red flower on a black background and carrying the message
'Remember Me' mark the places where someone has been killed or seriously injured in a
road crash. The red flower represents a scarlet anemone - a flower associated in mythology
with love and loss. Members of RoadPeace, the UK’s national charity for road traffic
4
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/3881767.
5
http://www.parliament.uk/index.cfm
victims, placed the signs. The 'Remember Me' signs are the first ever nation-wide public
acknowledgement for those killed and injured on Britain's roads, and for their families.
The organisation describes them as:
‘An arresting, universally understood and non-denominational reminder of the
dangers we all face when using the roads’. 6
RoadPeace provides dedicated support and advice to road crash victims. The organisation
has also sought to highlight the scale and preventable nature of road deaths and injuries.
Floral tributes to road crash victims have become a common sight on Britain's roads. The
shrines are a visible focus of grief for families and friends of victims. They also provide a
warning to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists of the dangers that exist on the roads. The
memorials are a non-permanent fixture. The flowers will eventually die. Road users have
no lasting reminder of the dangers at the location. Brigitte Chaudhry, National Secretary of
RoadPeace, said:
"We would like to see the 'Remember Me' sign erected automatically wherever
someone is killed or seriously injured in a road crash - to highlight the scale,
remember victims and prevent future tragedies." 7
With the growing publicity and public reaction to national disasters, there are some who
believe that the families of road death victims are entitled to place memorials at the site.
Jenny Jones, Deputy Mayor of London, said:
"We have monuments to recent tragedies, like the Paddington rail crash, but not to
the thousands of people who have been dying for decades in an everyday slaughter
on the streets." 8
6
http://www.roadpeace.org/index.html
Ibid
8
Ibid
7
Flowers have been used to display many emotions. The red rose may be associated with
sex. It may also be associated with a Ruby Wedding anniversary or a number of other
occasions. They are given for engagements, births, weddings, mother’s day, anniversaries,
etc. The meanings and associations are endless. When received, they are usually placed on
display for all to see. The short lifespan of cut flowers reflects the fragility of life. In the
long term, artificial flowers might replace them. One might conclude that this is a way of
distancing oneself from the person. Less visits and eventually an overgrown grave or
memorial site. As with fashion, art and the generations of life, the times change and the
old are forgotten. There are already examples of virtual memorials. It is a worldwide
phenomenon. America appears to have the largest collection of web based items on the
subject. Ireland France and Australia also feature heavily. Websites exist which are
completely dedicated to the memory of individuals or groups of people killed on the road.
Some of these sites contain newspaper reports and details of the accident. The following
appeared on an Irish website
Arklow gardai have also appealed for witnesses to a hit-and-run that claimed the life
of a young man. The victim, who is believed to be between 25 and 30, was found at
the side of the N11 at Ballynapark at 12.30am on Saturday. Gardai have not yet
released his name, as they are waiting for his family to return from abroad.9
I could not find any statistics to compare the responses of males and females to the
roadside memorials. My own response is to momentarily think about what might have
happened. Perhaps this is a typical male response. Wanting to know the mechanics rather
than the emotions. There are numerous websites, which feature the roadside memorials. It
may be significant that the sites created by males tend to focus on the mechanics. They are
usually photographers. Females create the sites, which are quite emotionally charged.
These online tributes also require looking after. Eventually, they too may be removed from
cyberspace.
9
http://www.iol.ie/~roadside/index.htm
With time, our attitudes to death may change. People are living longer. People are taking
control over the way in which they die. The planet is close to meltdown if the scientists
supporting the theory of Global Warming are to be believed. The growing amount of
controversy surrounding the placing of roadside memorials is akin to any contemporary
movement. Modern day artists such as Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and the Chapman
brothers have all faced the public’s disapproval. The trend has been that the greater the
disapproval, the greater the chances of the subject matter gaining celebrity. It may only be
a matter of time before an art dealer snaps up a roadside memorial. The shed, boat, shed
Turner Prize winner could soon be standing alongside the pillar from the tunnel where
Princess Diana’s life ended. My own Descansos would have to be a plaque, which could
be, used as a camera, inscribed with the words, ‘just one more’. The following quote best
sums up the way in which we live our lives in the seconds before the appearance of a new
roadside memorial.
We say that the hour of death is uncertain, but when we say this we think of that hour
as situated in an obscure and distant future. It does not occur to us that it can have
any connection with the day already begun or that death could arrive this same
afternoon, this afternoon which is so certain and which has every hour filled in
advance".10
10
Marcel Proust, In Search Of Lost Time, Vol III -The Guermantes Way, Part Two : Chapter One