Mark Ponder explores an unsatisfactory use of celebration to cope with death in contemporary funeral rituals. A Time to Celebrate strives to brighten our encounter with death with an extravagant birthday party: Ponder’s use of cheap party decor highlights the absurdity of memorial services in a pastiche of happiness, insight, peace, humor, and, of course, dead bodies.
Mark was interviewed by Houston's NPR Bob Stevenson while visiting his installation. Listen to it here!