Eight
Christopher Young
Despite it being inevitable, death is not something we freely discuss. It is often seen as a taboo subject, especially intergenerationally. The passing of a loved one can be further complicated by the foreignness of the surrounding experiences. This is particularly the case with 'stoic' men, even more so those in regional communities.
Despite it being inevitable, death is not something we freely discuss. It is often seen as a taboo subject, especially intergenerationally. The passing of a loved one can be further complicated by the foreignness of the surrounding experiences. This is particularly the case with 'stoic' men, even more so those in regional communities.
Eight looks at end-of-life cultural experiences; how people respond to such experiences; and the environments and institutions they encounter. These experiences are universal, and this work has the capacity to extend dialogue, both within the arts as well as in connection to larger social issues.
Utilising spaces such as hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, funeral homes and churches, it looks at the paradox of highly-charged, emotive events in seemingly sterile and controlled spaces.
How does the confronting nature of such spaces affect both the creation of the images as well as the subsequent interpretative experience?
Eight stems from visits to funeral homes when my father was ill. The first was a macabre behind-the-scenes tour and later for his funeral.
The sterility of these places should be calming and reassuring but I found the 'otherness' difficult to overlook.
Eight is an ongoing series and it also includes anonymous interviews with people about their own end-of-life experiences.
Eight was exhibited at the Perth Centre for Photography in September/October 2019 and was to continue to Vancouver Arts Centre in June 2020; Margaret River in August 2020; as well as the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries in November 2020. These exhibitions will likely be delayed by current circumstances.
