Paa Joe (Ghanaian, born 1945). <em>Coffin in the Form of a Nike Sneaker</em>, mid–1990s. Wood, pigment, metal, fabric, 29 x 80 x 22 1/2 in. (73.7 x 203.2 x 57.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Lynne and Robert Rubin in honor of William C. Siegmann, 2000.71. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2000.71_PS6.jpg)

Paa Joe (Ghanaian, born 1945). Coffin in the Form of a Nike Sneaker, mid–1990s. Wood, pigment, metal, fabric, 29 x 80 x 22 1/2 in. (73.7 x 203.2 x 57.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Lynne and Robert Rubin in honor of William C. Siegmann, 2000.71. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2000.71_PS6.jpg)

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This work created in the form of a Nike Sneaker by Paa Joe is typical for the shape and style of a coffin in Ghana to make a personal statement by reflecting the profession, interests, or characteristics of the deceased. Other figurative coffins (also called fantasy coffin) that Paa Joe has crafted are shaped like cell phones, lions, airplanes, cameras, birds, fish, Coke bottles, and more.

In this case, it is a Nike sneaker, a symbol of status and modernity in the late twentieth century. As people make the transition from one world to the unknown next, an object (a coffin) representing another object (in this case, a shoe) provides comforting familiarity. This particular one was created for the art market and was never actually used as a coffin. Funerals are often celebrations of the life of the deceased and include feasts. Morning turns to celebration as the coffin is carried to all the places that the deceased would want to say goodbye. Praise salutes, blessings, prayers and hymns fill the air as the coffin is taken to a burial site. In terms of "connecting cultures," it shows how culture, especially material culture, is global today. People use and buy the same brands all over the world.

Is this shaq's shoe?

Haha! It's a bit small for Shaq if you ask me! All joking aside this work is actually a coffin intended for burial by Ghanaian artist Paa Joe. In Ghana it is common to make a personal statement by reflecting the profession, interests, or characteristics of the deceased.Other figurative coffins (also called fantasy coffins) that Paa Joe has crafted are shaped like cell phones, lions, airplanes, cameras, birds, fish, Coke bottles, and more.

If you had to have a coffin reflect your personal story, and interests what shape would you want it to be?

Hmm good question. Probably a barrel of whiskey, with whiskey still in it.

You sound like my kind of person!

Funerary art, and material culture can tell us a lot about how people lived and worked. You can see some great examples of funerary art in our African Art galleries and in Egyptian art on the 3rd floor. Let me know if you have anymore questions

Coffin in the Form of a Nike Sneaker

Paa Joe

Arts of Africa

In some regions of Ghana, it is typical for the shape and style of a coffin to make a personal statement by reflecting the profession, interests, or characteristics of the deceased. The mother of many children might have a coffin in the shape of a hen with chicks. In this case, it is a Nike sneaker, a symbol of status and modernity in the late twentieth century. As people make the transition from one world to the unknown next, an object (a coffin) representing another object (in this case, a shoe) provides comforting familiarity.

ARTIST Paa Joe, Ghanaian, born 1945

MEDIUM Wood, pigment, metal, fabric

Place Made: Teshie, Greater Accra Region, Ghana

DATES mid–1990s

DIMENSIONS 29 x 80 x 22 1/2 in. (73.7 x 203.2 x 57.2 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa

ACCESSION NUMBER 2000.71

CREDIT LINE Gift of Lynne and Robert Rubin in honor of William C. Siegmann

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION The object is a coffin with a lid in the shape of a right-foot sneaker. It is made from pieced wooden panels. The coffin and lid are joined by two hinges at the proper right side and a yellow fabric strip attached to the coffin on the proper left corner of the lid. The exterior surfaces of both the coffin and the lid are painted. A red fabric is attached on the interior bottom of the coffin and the underside of the lid. The sides of the interior are padded with sponge foam that is covered with a yellow fabric. The edge of the lid's interior and the edge of the yellow fabric on the coffin are covered with a decorative fabric tape. Representing a shoe lace are twelve painted wooden sticks, each attached with nails at either end. The object is structurally in fair condition. A number of areas overall exhibit losses, breaks, splits, cracks and dents. There are surface stains and paint losses. The interior fabrics are in good condition.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Paa Joe (Ghanaian, born 1945). Coffin in the Form of a Nike Sneaker, mid–1990s. Wood, pigment, metal, fabric, 29 x 80 x 22 1/2 in. (73.7 x 203.2 x 57.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Lynne and Robert Rubin in honor of William C. Siegmann, 2000.71. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2000.71_PS6.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 2000.71_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.

Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Is this shaq's shoe?

If you had to have a coffin reflect your personal story, and interests what shape would you want it to be?

Hmm good question. Probably a barrel of whiskey, with whiskey still in it.

You sound like my kind of person!