The Tiki Love Truck has been residing in the V&A’s Porter Gallery for the past three months as part of the Disobedient Objects exhibition. Like many of the objects in there, their uses will continue as originally intended once they are returned to their owners and back to the streets. The truck, however, won’t let being displayed in a museum spoil its annual tradition of being decorated for Day of the Dead.
The vehicle commemorates John Joe ‘Ash’ Amador who was sentenced to death by the state of Texas. After his execution, his friends and family made a death mask. Ten days later, back in Britain, they drove the Tiki Love Truck through Manchester. With Ash’s mask in pride of place, it presented a spectacular statement against the death penalty.
The pagan festivals of Samhain and Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) are holidays for remembering and honouring those who have passed. From the 31st October to the 2nd November, the truck will be decorated with a dedicated Day of the Dead shrine.
Traditionally between these dates the Spirit worlds open up as the veils between worlds become thin and we can communicate with those who have crossed over.
Last night, Carrie and her team from The Treatment Rooms came into the museum after hours to set up a shrine in the back of the truck which will be on display over the weekend. The shrine includes a jade death mask made by Nick Reynolds, taken from the Palenca death mask of Mexico.
This shrine is dedicated to the memory of Carrie’s mother Jill Richards, Herman Wallace, John Joe (Ash) Amador, Luis Ramirez and Khristian Oliver.
Do drop by over the weekend to see it for yourselves!
Hi, Ms Sarah Jameson.
I am an art student researching for Fine art Personal Project at City Lit. It’s very interesting to see the post on the Day of the Dead vehicle against to Death Penalty.
My project is based on my own personal experiences. I am collecting famous or infamous real cases of child sexual abuse, domestic violence and rape in UK as an archive and material at the moment. Is there any related Disobedient Object at exhibition or blogs to protest or raise awareness of such crimes for public? Or any artist who may deal with such subject? I am hoping to use such subjects as my theme in my art for next term and as life work. I haven’t seen the exhibition yet though, will visit the event on Friday 21st November. This is exciting exhibition that V&A is mainly exhibit traditionally considered beautiful objects. But
Hi Emiko,
Thank you for your comment- glad you found the post on the Tiki Love truck interesting. I’m afraid that there aren’t any objects in the exhibition that link directly to the material you refer to although we do have examples of arpilleras (appliquéd textiles that originated in Chile). Made by women, they document the violence and hardships experienced during the Pinochet dictatorship. I hope you enjoy the exhibition!
Dear Emiko,
I included photos of protesters about child abuse on the ceramic panels that were outside the museum for this exhibition. I have made another piece that is about well known child abusers. Please contact me if you want more information or pictures of work.