Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris. It is perhaps one of the world’s most famous and oft-visited graveyards and has become a popular tourist attraction as well. Here, for example, one can find the graves of the pianist Chopin and the painter Delacroix. Viskum has been carrying out a project in this cemetery since 1998, the year he was awarded the Ib Schlytter’s Endowment. Those who receive money from this fund are obliged to visit Ib Schlytters grave at Père-Lachaise. They must see that it is being well taken care of and then report back to the trust fund’s lawyer. Since 1998 Viskum has continued to visit the graveyard at least once a year. Each time he tends one or more graves in need of maintenance. He removes dead branches, moss and so forth, and replaces broken grave décor with new décor. It is as if a distant relative has come to tend the grave. He takes the broken decorative objects home. Viskum also photographs the portrait affixed to the gravestone. In the exhibition context he attaches a manipulated and indistinct variant of the portrait to the grave décor and places it on a stretcher. The project will continue as long as there are graves at Père-Lachaise needing maintenance.
