Necropolis 2.
Nec r opoli s 2. Budha Tamรกs Tรกbori Andrรกs
Budapest / Krakรณw 2014
Signage without signs. Tombstones have been a replacement of the human figure since the beginning of time. They became a sign probably before the invention of writing.
Candles are one of the most common functional accessories, put onto the tombs at special occasions. They are small-scale industrialproducts available at local vendors near the cemeteries. In contrast, fitted lanterns show a more unique need: they are signs of human care.
It is customary that when death occurs, water is poured out from all the dishes in the house: most importantly from the jug or glass closestto the bed of the deceased. It is a symbolical act representing the irreversibility of what has happened. Clear water is of great value- pouring it out shows the extent of the loss.
Flowers are common accessories on tombstones. We also find the equivalent of these symbols in written form: for example “oh, a branch broke from the tree”. The branch and the flower appeared in cemeteries as symbols of Western Christianity. Their representation is usually schematic: often drawn, chiselled or welded onto the tomb. As crucial symbols of life, they oppose death; in contrast, the broken branch symbolises a suddenly interrupted life.
Besides its original function, an extravagant tombstone also serves as an advertisement for its local creator who may procure orders as a result.
As the eternal symbol of a loving mother-son relationship, Madonna is at the same time the martyr of the soul and the symbol of grief and mourning as she “carries the cross of her son in her soul”.
As a typical decoration showing the religious affiliation of the deceased, the Cross and Jesus are also the most common mark of death in Europe. They are expressed in a wide range of construction methods, from two simple crossing wood slats to a meticulously processed metal artwork with decorative accessories. The finishings on the carved and painted wooden crosses are especially intricate.
In the depictions of Jesus, we can notice not only the modest art of cemeteries but also the unbroken continuity of centuries.
The content of signs carved onto plain surfaces can suggest more with a characteristic typeface.
Statue-like tombstones using the functionalism of the 20’s often remind us of monuments. These rectangular forms lasted until the mid 90’s - the rounded shapes which came about after are now considered standard.
The ladder is an associative motif – the connection between the earth and the sky – but it is rather practical in the case of the cleaning of taller tombstones.
DIY repairs, maintenance in process or abandoned restoration works..... On certain tombstones the building elements piece together like a montage that form a unique shape. The tombstone gets abandoned: its original builders for one reason or another lose interest in remembering the deceased. As these structures decay, they remain as a signage in this state for some time.
“The iconic symbol globally depicts the denoted thing by reducing it to a simplified graphical convention because the most relevant signs are picked from the detected lot.� (Umberto Eco)
Constructions of great fantasy aim to be unique and lasting memorials of the deceased. Few tombstones are simple, but we can find many as are building-like-objects that remind us of small-scale crypt buildings.
Is it a unique branch of naive art or we are witnessing how conventional tomb signage is descending to the level of a new stream? The elaboration and decoration of the tombstone expresses the builders’s ideas on beauty.
The portrait of the deceased has been an important accessory for a long time: the portraits of Pompei immortalised the dead. Photos on tombstones are very common in Eastern European cemeteries. Among the black and white photos a coloured one can appear veryprestigious. When selecting the image it is important to show a typical facial gesture of the deceased. In cases where truthfulness is not the main criteria, the photo can be slightly better than the reality.
The places for commemoration can be spontaneously created or long lasting, substantial constructions. The box-like pieces serve as safestorage for watering and maintenance tools.
The seemingly unusual objects that gather around the tombstone become the religious preparations for the journey of the deceased, andthese presents are rather personal. The overwhelming spread of alphabetism has meant that this object based communication has become increasingly neglected.