2024 - Light Tower Nirvana to Soul

Death is the final destination in everyone’s life journey, while remembrance is the profound nostalgia of the living for the departed. Rooted in traditional Chinese beliefs, the pursuit of ”rest in peace in the earth, return to the roots like fallen leaves” signifies the desire to return the deceased to nature, embodying an endless longing for loved ones. Similarly, commemorating the deceased is often done in traditional ways, such as holding regular memorial ceremonies in solemn places like ancestral halls or cemeteries.
In today’s society, with the continuous development of individual pursuits and the evolution modern views on life, sea burial has gradually emerged as a new form of funeral practice. However, its acceptance in China is currently limited Compared to traditional land burials the current process and commemorative forms of sea burial are incomplete, lacking fixed memorial sites and rituals, to meet the needs of people commemorating the departed. The vast expanse of the ocean presents a challenge: how can the grieving hearts of loved ones find a meaningful place for solace?
Reflecting on this contemplation, we have selected the estuary of the Min River in China as the designated site for our design, drawing inspiration from the traditional cultural custom of ”river lanterns” in the Minnan region. Our goal is to create a novel sea burial installation and commemorative form, aiming to become a significant place for loved ones to cherish and remember. In this unique location, we aspire to blend tradition and modernity, integrating the ocean and culture to construct a commemorative space that emanates boundless warmth and tranquility. This design not only pays homage to the deceased but also seeks to console the emotions of the living, providing each loved one with a place in the serene expanse of the sea to find solace and solace for their innermost thoughts and feelings.