While You’re Still Here

Yvonne Osei’s While You’re Still Here highlighted the commercial landscape along the Jefferson Avenue Bridge and celebrated the important contributions of individual workers in this region. The public vinyl installation featured photographs of the hands of four employees from businesses around the area interwoven with floral imagery. For over a century, the Jefferson Avenue Bridge area has been characterized by its floral district. Hence, the work was an ode to the rich history and adopted the metaphor of flowers to capture vibrance, progressive growth, and the fragrance of a promising future.

While You’re Still Here connoted a connection between time and presence. In the spirit of Counterpublic 2023, the work served as a memorial to everyday people (past, present, and future) whose labor, no matter how substantial or minute, contributes to the monumental growth of the St. Louis community. The effort we put in transcends us and is, in a sense, timeless because it offers a compounded advancement to the community over time that is immeasurable. The installation was a reminder to viewers: embrace your moment, understand that you are relevant, appreciate the contributions of others, and receive your flowers while you’re still here.