Vera Staub

Schwangerer Sarg [pregnant coffin]

Sculpture (sandstone), Fahr Monastery, Switzerland

The pregnant coffin is one artwork of a three-part series on the process of dying, saying goodbye, and grieving. A sculpted stone with its subtle 'belly' symbolizes at once birth and the last resting-place after death. Based on this sculpture, Vera Staub then created a transparent installation ('Das Tuch') that only hints at the the contours of the coffin: a shroud made out of synthetic resin, initially flowing softly, later solidified and stiff. The artist traveled the country trapsorting the shroud in a circus wagon from town to town. On public spaces, people are encouraged to visit the wagon, where curiousity and lightheartedness often gave way to a sudden discomfort. 

Vera Staub documented her journey through Swiss towns fotographically and has since published a book about it. For its part, the pregnant coffin has found a permanent home in the garden of the  Fahr Monastery. 

Factsheet

Dimensions
50cm, 50cm, 150cm (Height, Width, Depth)
Weight
750kg
Year
2004
Material
Stone
Style
Public Art, Figurative
Theme
Spirituality, Society
All artworks from Vera Staub
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