Deb Griffiths

Why did you choose to work on a coffin rather than a shroud?

I like the idea of a shroud as a concept, and that it’s the quickest way to become compost, but I like the idea of decorating a coffin, which can be done with loved ones which in moments of extreme grief, could be very healing.

What materials have you used for your artwork?

eco-paint and eco-markers

What is the story behind your artwork. What does it represent about you and your life story?

This started off just being a coffin, and very quickly became ‘my coffin’, so the stuff on it is meaningful to me. I’ve always loved that quote ‘Love is everything …’ and then on the lid I started off with the Desiderata, but then I thought of a few other quotes I like, so the lid is a mish-mash of quotes that mean something to me. The head-end has an Ankh, which is an Egyptian symbol of protection, and I have a strong affinity with Anubis, the God of the Dead, because of my line of work. The eye of Horus at my feet is another symbol of protection, and the divine feminine. The Rainbow Serpent on the back side is a symbol for the amazing lifeforce which has pulsed through my veins and made me who I am. My 15 yo daughter painted the Ankh and the Rainbow Serpent, and I didn’t even have to pay her 🙂 Anyway, this coffin has been sitting on my dining room table for weeks, sometimes being used as a laundry-stacking place, or a resting place for dirty cups. I’m glad she’s outta the house but it’s been interested contemplating the day, hopefully long from now, when I’ll be in it.

What are 3 things you have learned from being part of the eco coffin project?

• That you can have a shroud cremation
• Human ashes are highly toxic to the earth
• How a shroud is made

What is one thing you will do (or have done already) differently as a result from being part of the project?

Push boundaries in the industry to make the death industry a little more earth and human-friendly.

Any other thoughts or comments you would like to add?

I hope to see the project expand for younger people, adding an art component as a workshop on natural dyeing.

Testimonial

I would highly recommend the Eco coffin Project to anyone with an interest in an earth-friendly death, and that should be most people. The Eco Coffin Project brings more awareness to people in a heaps fun, relaxed environment, with lots of different modules that were always interesting and useful. It attracted a wide range of interesting people to chat with as well. Thanks Abby for putting together a wonderful project! Book in quick! It sold out last time quickly for a reason.