About

The Before I Die project reimagines how the walls of our cities can help us grapple with mortality and meaning as a community today.

Before I Die is a global participatory public art project that reimagines our relationship with death and with one another in the public realm. Originally created by artist Candy Chang in New Orleans after the death of a loved one, the public artwork invites people to reflect and share their personal aspirations in public. The Atlantic called it, “one of the most creative community projects ever,” and after receiving many requests, Candy created this website of resources to help others interested in creating Before I Die walls in their own communities.

Candy Chang will be in Buffalo to give the talk, “The Power of Public Art to Engage Communities” on Friday, Sept. 22, 6pm (FREE) at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library – Central Branch Auditorium (1 Lafayette Square, enter through the Clinton Street entrance).

join for candy chang’s festival talk on friday, sept. 22

Thanks to passionate people around the world, over 5,000 Before I Die walls have now been created by communities in over 75 countries, including Iraq, China, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and South Africa. Candy’s 2012 TED talk about Before I Die has been viewed over five million times and translated into over 40 languages. Each wall is created by local residents who want to make a space in their community to reflect with one another. Each wall is a unique tribute to living an examined life. And each wall invites us to restore perspective in an age of increasing distractions.

Visit https://beforeidieproject.com to learn more.

Buffalo’s Before I Die Walls

Locations:

Fabrication of the Before I Die walls by UB School of Architecture and Planning Fabrication Workshop.

Share your Buffalo Before I Die pics with hashtag #beforeidiewall

The languages represented* on the Before I Die walls are:

*The languages represented are only a small sampling of the many different languages spoken in Buffalo/Western New York. For more information on languages and translation services in Buffalo, NY please visit the International Institute of Buffalo website.
**[Correction] قبل ان اموت اريد ان  is the correct translation however the small diacritic hamza (ء) above the letter alif (ا) was erroneously included.
***A Karen translation was not available in time for production of the walls.

Special thanks to the following individuals for making this project possible:

  • Frits Abell
  • Stephanie Cramer
  • Jamie Enser
  • Wade Georgi
  • Julia Hunt
  • J.P. Piret
  • Daniel Shanahan