Black Taj serves as a symbol of universal love and is a tribute to those that have passed away due to the COVID-19 pandemic (in contrast to the White Taj Mahal which was created by one man for his wife) because EVERY LIFE MATTERS. Purcht (the Artist) created a video of the Black Taj, bringing to life the myth of the black Taj that was spoken of but never built.
Entering Black Taj, the visitor encounters a vastness of space, soothing light, and perfect symmetry. Faint heartbeats echo throughout the experience as a sign that our loved ones continue with us. Hanging cylinders inside Black Taj offer a visual of placing sticks to mark a life lost (a practice prevalent during COVID-19 in India). The experience is augmented by mirrors that generate reflections of the cylinders (each, a life) and provide a visual that loss feels unending. Black Taj celebrates every life lived with dignity.
Black Taj signifies that the feeling of loss we experience is lingering love that does not deplete but lives on. Black Taj is a way for each of us to continue the story when we lose someone.
