Catafalque
The photographic series Catafalque (2014) is an exploration of some of the environments through which human remains pass or temporarily rest prior to disposal. A catafalque is a raised structure or platform on which the body of a deceased person is placed during a memorial ceremony. Because of the sensitivity of the subject and the nature of the spaces concerned, a prolonged period of communication and interaction with specialist proprietors and staff was necessary in order to provide reassurance and gain trust. No photographs of human remains would be included in the project. It was important that the physical spaces depicted appear to be accessible to the living, providing the possibility of psychologically entering that space. Locations included a crematorium, a funeral home, a crypt viewing box, a city morgue, a shoreline and a family home.
Catafalque I - Catafalque used to present coffin during ceremony, Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm.
Catafalque II - Coffin trolley, Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm
Catafalque I - Catafalque used to present coffin during ceremony, Island Crematorium, Rocky Island, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm.
Catafalque IV - interior of discrete customised estate car used for retrieving corpse from home of deceased, O'Connor Brothers Funeral Home, Cork, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm
Catafalque V - Trolley used for presentation of corpse for identification by family of deceased, City Morgue Cork University Hospital, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm
Catafalque VII - conservatory of family home where friend of the artist lay in closed coffin for wake, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm
Catafalque VIII - crypt viewing box for visitors at Triskel Christchurch, Cork where two sets of human remains where excavated to allow for the architectural intervention, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm
Catafalque IX - correctly proportioned lift for accommodating the movement of coffin from the carpark and cosmetologist facility in the basement to the upper floors of the funeral parlour at O'Connor Brothers Funeral Home, Cork, 2014, Chromogenic print on dibond, 31 x 46cm