Traditionally, many Chinese believe that when a person dies they leave with no earthly possessions and it is left to their descendants to provide for them in the afterlife until they are reincarnated.
Joss paper, made from coarse bamboo paper, is burnt as an offering to the dead and is often found resembling gold or silver money. Some believe that the money will enable their ancestors to live lavishly in the afterlife, or that it may be used to bribe the guards of the underworld to escape.
Since 2009, I have been photographing what is a growing market in China for more and more elaborate paper offerings. Found largely in Hong Kong, these objects, either mass-produced or custom-made, range from mundane household items such as microwaves and hairdryers, to replica sports cars, ipods and fast food meals. While some items are still traditional in form (money, houses, servants), many reflect a growing consumer culture in China. The offerings can also be seen as aspirational, giving the dead what they never had while alive. The objects exist as indirect portraits or memento mori.
While the practice of burning paper objects is officially banned in China, it has always been tolerated. In 2006 however, it was reported that paper prostitutes, Viagra, condoms, ecstasy and gambling equipment were found on sale outside cemeteries which lead to a crack down of the more extreme products.
As a document to this ongoing practice, my work occupies a space between art and documentary photography. In case it rains in heaven is a poetic catalogue of remembrance at the same time as a snapshot of a living tradition which continues to be updated. More recent developments of this practice now include burial web sites which allow descendants to select digital items for online burning.
All the items photographed here were burnt as offerings to my ancestors.
