Coffin in the Form of a Nike Sneaker in the Brooklyn Museum, August 2007

Paa Joe (Ghanian, born 1945)
Coffin in the Form of a Nike Sneaker
1990
Wood, pigment
Accession # 2000.71

During the last four decades in the coastal region of Ghana, a tradition has developed of burying the dead in elaborate fantasy coffins. The artisans who create them draw their inspiration from the livelihood of the deceased and make such forms as a fish for a fisherman and an onion for an onion farmer. Sometimes they are simply symbols of wealth and prestige, such as a Mercedes-Benz or this Nike sneaker. The dramatic and colorful coffins display a natural joy for life in the face of death and demonstrate an artful way of overcoming adversity.

Text from the Brooklyn Museum label.