THE University of Manchester is the latest to erect a ‘Before I die’ wall as part of their SICK festival taking place later this month.
The giant chalk board at University Place, Oxford Road campus invites the public to contemplate death, reflect on life and share their personal aspirations.
The wall takes inspiration from American student, Candy Chang, who after the loss of a loved one, decided to create the first “Before I die” platform on the side of an abandoned New Orleans house.
Her idea to show how “fundamentally similar we all are” has since spread to more than 70 countries including Malaysia, Iraq and Mexico.
From Manchester, England: “Before I die I want to know if I will be with my Jack again.” On view through March thanks to the @SICKfestival. pic.twitter.com/WCQVmwAWow
— Candy Chang (@candychang) February 28, 2017
SICK festival organisers said: “Revealing the community’s longings, anxieties, joys and struggles, it explores how public space can cultivate self-examination and empathy among neighbours and compassionately prepare us for death and grief.”
Comments on the Manchester board so far include “Before I die I want to…marry my lovely” and “Before I die I want to…make my parents proud.”
With this being Manchester, many people couldn’t resist using the wall to mock student life: “Before I die I want to…run through Manchester naked” and “Before I die I want to…finish my essay.”
Sara Britcliffe, a student at Manchester University, said: “It’s definitely receiving a lot of attention. It is nice to read other people’s comments and think about what they want to achieve.
“Most of the comments are obviously not serious, but it’s still quite up lifting.”
The wall will be in Manchester until March 25.
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