I have been asked by the United Nations to commission a memorial representative of the story of mankind’s existence on planet Earth now that the space station is almost complete. Utilizing some of the few resources remaining on the planet, scientists have been able to create an enclosed ecosystem on the space station, but only to sustain half of the population remaining on the planet: the elite. They have given me four years to complete this project before we launch into space, approximately the same amount of time it will take to complete the space station for humans to inhabit. While I have been offered a ticket for my services, I would like to be laid to rest on the soil which I came from upon finishing this project which is so beloved to me.
As a black woman, I think it is pertinent that this memorial be engraved on the African continent, considering how history notes that humanity originated in Africa as well as the continent being known for being rich with natural resources. Although the continent is dying, it is home to many native tribes of descendants from their respective countries and regions, that have found ways to adapt their living to survive in the new conditions of the world as aforementioned. Specifically, the African continent, along with many other countries around the world including the United States, have fallen into years of war and chaos, which have also contributed to significant losses of the human population.
The memorial I am creating with the help of others, Love and Death, speaks directly towards our neglected environmentalism as a species. I hope that this message is captured by the dying mother, represented by being colorless compared to her surroundings as her child literally usurps her energy and resources to sustain himself. The Mother is representative of mother nature and the boy child, mankind. Firstly, it is important to note that I would be unable to finish this project alone, given the vast amount of space that it is going to cover. I would definitely need a helicopter of some sorts to be able to continuously look at the memorial as we work on it. I would assemble teams of 100 people, remaining on Earth, from each African country that the memorial will cover or touch. I believe I will be able to gather these individuals during my travels to each nation to speak with tribal leaders about amassing their territory in the creation of this landscape piece. My argument to them will be that given that some of what remains of Earth’s population is being taken to space, we must come together as one Earth tribe, the forgotten people. For the people remaining on the planet, this memorial will speak to our interconnectedness to the planet and our new opportunity to grow and heal with the planet, given the lessening population. This memorial, while it may be beautiful to look at from the space station, they will only see it for the time that the African continent is facing the space station, but it will mainly be for the enjoyment and exploration of the forgotten people of Earth. By working together to build, carve and plant this memorial, we have an opportunity to learn from one another as well as create a space where we can begin to create a new history for the planet and our people. My hope is also that with the limited amount of humans interacting with the Earth, the garden will begin to flourish overtime. I want this memorial to be a transformative landscape piece.
Given that the memorial has regions filled with different aspects, using nature to translate the story of humanity, I believe it beautifully articulates the love and struggle between humanity and the planet we call home. The collaborative nature of the piece also represents us as a human race, and demonstrates the truest intention of the memorial — that there is no one people, but rather many groups of people who are willing to come together to save and rebuild what we have destroyed.
