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Thousands of years of cultural traditions, along with new ideas like turning cremated remains into diamonds, feature in a new exhibition that opened in May at the Australian Museum. The result of two years’ hard work by Museum exhibition and scientific staff, death:the last taboo looks at what happens to us after we die; how different cultures dispose of, mourn and remember their dead, and takes a remarkable journey through how death has been dealt with through the ages. The Museum undertook intense community consultation to help determine what people would want to see and learn about from the exhibition. “Death: the last taboo gives an incredible insight into how this topic – which really is one of the last taboos in our society – has been treated through the ages and by different cultures,” said the Director of the Australian Museum, Professor Michael Archer. “This exhibition challenges us to increase our understanding about death and what happens in its aftermath.
It also encourages us to explore the subject not only from our own point of view but from that of others who often see the same issue in fascinatingly different ways. In fact, it’s an extraordinarily lively look at death!” The Australian Museum has established www.deathonline.net where people can share their stories about death and read about the experiences of others. The exhibition will be on show at the Australian Museum until November 2, 2003, after which it is due to travel to several locations around Australia. Photos courtesy of the Australian Museum C O N T A C T S death: the last taboo
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