‘Fantasy Coffins of Ghana’ at the Museum of International Folk ArtA new Santa Fe exhibit shows how artists in Ghana turn coffins into representations of the lives they honor
A new art exhibit, “The Art Underground: Fantasy Coffins of Ghana,” is on view at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It examines an intriguing funeral tradition in Ghana, where handcrafted fantasy coffins are used to honor the dead. The exhibit was guest curated by Mark Sloan with Eric Adjetey…
A new art exhibit, “The Art Underground: Fantasy Coffins of Ghana,” is on view at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It examines an intriguing funeral tradition in Ghana, where handcrafted fantasy coffins are used to honor the dead. The exhibit was guest curated by Mark Sloan with Eric Adjetey Anang.
What Are Ghana’s Fantasy Coffins?
The artisan coffins are designed and made by hand to reflect and honor who the person was in life, which can include their profession or passions. These coffins are rich in symbolism can be crafted to look like anything you can imagine, from a bumblebee to a human heart. This exhibit offers a rare look at funerary art as part of Ghana’s rituals and customs, as well as lending some insight into one of the more unconventional ways to remember a loved one. These coffins are also beautiful contemporary sculptures that take years of skill and practice.
The Symbolism of Coffins in Ghana
The Ga, or the group of people in the Accra region of Ghana in Africa, have a belief system containing a connected hierarchy of physical and spiritual forces. In this complex cosmology, coffins are the vessel that carries the dead to the afterlife, representing the deceased’s profession, lifetime passions, or personal characteristics. Families commission these fantasy coffins in advance. The coffin artists must get to know the person who has died in order to properly plan a piece that is deeply personal and tied to the entire Ga community.
For those in countries where caskets tend to take on a standardized form, this ritual may seem both intriguing and unfamiliar. The design of the casket in Ga culture is part of the mourning process, as well as a way for families to decide how their loved one is remembered.
A Look Into the Kane Kwei Workshop
The exhibit follows several generations of coffin artists who were trained in Ghana’s Kane Kwei workshop. The pieces explore the works of a younger generation of coffin artists as well, including Jacob Tetteh Ashong, Daniel Mensah (nicknamed “Hello”) and Eric Adjetey Anang, who is Kwei’s grandson. The knowledge and skills for this cultural tradition are handed down through generations.
A Broader Look at Fantasy Coffins
Ghana’s fantasy coffins have spread in popularity and have arrived in many museum exhibits and art collections in several countries, including France and the U.S. The “Fantasy Coffins of Ghana” exhibition allows us to learn more about Ga culture as well as the differences in how we remember and honor the dead.
The exhibit can be viewed now through September 5, 2027.
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What a fascinating and beautiful tradition!! These handcrafted coffins remind us that even in death, there are meaningful ways to celebrate a person’s individuality, passions, and legacy. Turning a final farewell into a work of art is a powerful expression of love and remembrance.
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