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.Â
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.Â
