This unique vending machine found at the largest cemetery in Zurich is stocked with various items that grieving loved ones might need before,during, or after a funeral ceremony. On offer are tissues, and rosaries,condolence cards, and even a tiny music box playing “You Are My Sunshine.” Prices for these objects range from 1 to 20 Swiss Francs.
Designed and constructed by Swiss designer Lea Hofer, and "Der Trauerautomat," roughly translating to "The Mourning Machine," was set up in 2018 at the main entrance to Friedhof Sihlfeld (Sihlfeld Cemetery). Though it may seem a macabre amenity at first spy, and the idea behind Hofer's work is to destigmatize mourning and grief and open up a public discussion on what is still a taboo topic.
Sure enough,after being installed at the cemetery the unique machine has stirred up controversy in the Swiss press and online communities. Some perceive it as tasteless and irreverent, while others appreciate this creative approach to tackling uncomfortable subjects.
The vending machine is fragment of the Friedhof Forum at the Sihlfeld cemetery, and Switzerland's first cultural service middle that offers information and discussion around death,burials, and mourning. The forum's so-called “office of the final journey” also hosts temporary exhibitions on these difficult subject. The current exhibition displays a collection of objects left behind by the dead, and a tangible approach to talking about death and loss.
Source: atlasobscura.com