The Before-I-Die Wall

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Posted 2014-12-06 by Mike Whyte ⇒ follow

This was found by absolute chance, but if you happen to be in the same area as I was, have a look out for it - as you can see, it's really quite interesting.

This 'Before-I-Die' Wall was found in a quiet, unassuming square in Bermondsey, but it seems, through my research, that it is part of a much bigger project - it is not the only one that exists in London even - in fact it is one of many variations of the wall which have appeared across the globe...

The story starts in New Orleans with an artist Candy Chang. The project started as an outlet for the emotions felt by the artist after the death of a loved one. Candy applied to create an interactive wall on an abandoned house, a place where thoughts could be placed anonymously through completing a simple sentence repeated over a chalkboard surface 'Before I die...'

Chang could not have dreampt how influential this act would be. The project has been taken up by numerous others all across the globe - from Japan to Germany, New Zealand to the UK.

A true community-spirited idea, with simple preparation, the project has grown through the artist allowing those interested to create their own walls for their communities, with the artist even providing the tools (as long as the goal is non-commercial), for people on her website.

That I found this completely by accident, yet discovered a global phenomenon, and a heart-warming one at that, shows exactly the power of keeping your eyes open as you travel around. Another reason to feel and be inspired...