KURT TONG: ‘IN CASE IT RAINS IN HEAVEN’
«Traditionally, many Chinese believe that when a person dies, he leaves with no earthly possessions and it’s up to their descendants to provide for them in their afterlife until reincarnation. Joss paper, made from coarse bamboo paper, is burnt as offerings for the dead. Depending on the region, Joss paper is decorated with seals, stamps, silver or gold paint. These are often folded into the shape of gold or silver ingots.
Plain Joss paper is offered to newly deceased spirits and spirits of the unknown. Silver is given to ancestral spirits as well as spirits of local deities. Gold spirit money is given to higher gods such as the Jade Emperor. Some believe that the money will enable their ancestors to live lavishly in the afterlife. Others believe that the money is used to bribe the guards and the Black Judge of the afterlife in order to escape early. More contemporary varieties of Joss paper include Hell Bank Notes and paper credit cards.
In the last 50 years, more and more elaborate items have been made out of paper as offerings for the dead. Cars, servants and houses were common sights at funerals. As consumer culture takes over in China, Joss products have become more and more outrageous. While this practice is officially banned in China, it has always been tolerated.
Some see the offerings as compensations for what a person never had during his lifetime. Many consider the items as a reflection of the values of the living of our society. In 2006, it was reported that paper prostitutes, viagra, condoms, ecstacy and gambling equipment were found outside of cemeteries. This led to a crack down of the more extreme products. The images in this series reflect some of the products currently available to burn for the dead. All items were burnt as offerings to my ancestors».
Jen Bekman Gallery, New York / From January 28th through March 4th, 2012
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