Afterlife, 2025
Amulets are miniature objects, typically carved in stone. They have been crafted over millennia carrying cultural and cosmic significance across civilisations. The Latin root of the word amulet, amoliri, means “to drive away, to protect”, and these small, talismanic objects, small enough to be hand held, are often considered protective.
Afterlife reimagines this tradition. Nearly two hundred ancient amulets from across time and all corners of the globe have been sourced from museums and collections worldwide, representing Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Viking, Islamic, Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Celtic, Greco-Roman and Pre-Columbian traditions, amongst others. For Afterlife, these small, intricate amulets have been recreated from materials sourced from endangered landscapes and fragile ecosystems to serve as a bridge between past and present, drawing on centuries of cultural and spiritual traditions while reflecting the fragility of the natural world today.
The materials used to recreate the amulets reflect the pressing environmental issues of our time. Rocks from glacial terrains left bare by retreating ice; coral remnants from the Great Barrier Reef, stones from islands facing rising sea levels, and other materials from devastated or threatened ecosystems are transformed into tiny objects of reflection, connection, prayer and renewal. Each chosen material carries a story of environmental fragility, symbolising urgent issues such as biodiversity loss, deforestation, and the impact of climate change.
Afterlife is installed in a Martello tower, one of a network of circular structures built around Britain’s coastline during the Napoleonic wars, designed in part as defence, in part as early warning system. Katie Paterson has collaborated with Berlin / Mexico City based architectural studio Zeller & Moye to design a special table to host the amulets, the curving structure responding to the circular shape of the tower, with hollows and channels etched into its surface in a reference to a riverbed. “Locally-grown sycamore wood was the selected material for the table. It provides a natural backdrop for the amulets, as well as a smooth and warm tactile experience to the visitor’s hand” said Zeller & Moye.
A range of methods was used to create the amulets. Many were cast from moulds made using 3D prints, with materials mixed with plant resins, beeswax, and various plasters. Others were carved by hand. In the Martello Tower, the amulets are grouped into thematic zones: Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, Place and Climate, Wildfire, Anthropocene, Extraction, Mining, War, and Pollution.
Afterlife explores themes of deep time, geology, and the environment, prompting audiences to consider legacies left for future generations. The project serves as a memorial to species and ecosystems at risk of extinction, intertwining ancient traditions with contemporary environmental concerns. By blending historical ritual with urgent ecological themes, Afterlife becomes both a tribute and a call to action, urging us to protect the delicate balance of life on Earth.
Afterlife by Katie Paterson is a new commission for Folkestone Triennial 2025, installed in a Martello tower on Folkestone’s East Cliff, open til 19 October 2025.