During these troubling times, in which every week seems to prise another visionary from our earthly grasp, it’s reassuring to know that there are resources out there dedicated to remembering those who have already left us, particularly in the powerful and simple way that Instagram account @otherpeoplesdeaths does. The feed functions like an image archive: each day brings with it a new anniversary, and thus a new portrait of the subject, but with names like Malcolm McLaren and Keith Haring to memorialise, this formula is more effective than we could ever imagine. Whether it’s the High Priestess of Soul Nina Simone staring defiantly out from her armchair, Beat poet and counter-cultural hero Allen Ginsberg gesturing wildly, or Elizabeth Taylor playing poolside, the account transforms the yearly calendar into a who's who of heroes and heroines past. The hashtags function like an abbreviated obituary, the photograph a visual reminder of each day’s selected genius, and the format a nifty and effective means of creating a moment of reflection and celebration in your day. If that doesn't inspire you to carpe diem, we don't know what will.
Happy Monday! #AnOtherHappyMonday
