The people’s DJ, Avicii, born Tim Bergling, would have turned 32 years old on September 8. In a commemorative Google Doodle, designed to both celebrate the late DJ’s birthday and to signify National Suicide Prevention Week, artists Alyssa Winans, Olivia When, and Sophie Diao depict a boy’s transformation from strumming a guitar alone to performing in front of a massive audience. The animation is a tasteful portrayal of the evolution of Tim. Klas Bergling, Avicii’s father, recently offered his thoughtful support of the work,
“The Doodle is fantastic. My family and I feel honoured, and Tim would have been very proud and love[d] it. It is a friendly and warm story of a young man fulfilling his dream to be a DJ, and at the same time telling us that our journey in life is not always easy despite fame and fortune.”
After Avicii’s untimely passing in 2018, the elder Bergling established the Tim Bergling Foundation. Designed to “honour [Tim’s] memory and continue to act in his spirit,” and to “advocate for the recognition of suicide as a global health emergency,” the organization aims to dismantle the stigma associated with suicide and mental health struggles.
National Suicide Prevention Week runs from September 5 to 11, but humanity’s involvement in saving lives is a year-round effort. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can always be reached at 800-273-8255.
Featured image: Rudgr.com
