Considered one of the most important Ghanian coffin makers of his generation, Paa Joe creates figurative coffins in the shape of spectacular objects and forms. Following a tradition of burial rituals and artistic crafts in Ghana, the fantasy coffins are modeled after consumer objects, such as cars, sneakers, and cameras, as well as animals ranging from lions and fish to eagles and chickens.
These coffins represent the aspirations and values of their intended users, and they speak to the individual’s personality and visions of the afterlife. Paa Joe now works collaboratively with his son, Jacob Tetteh-Ashong, who has learned the trade from his father and follows in the family tradition of coffin-making. In this series of commissioned coffins, Paa Joe and Jacob Tetteh- Ashong reference dated technologies, including computers, boomboxes, and Walk-men, as well as their iconic works including airplanes and mobile phones.