What do ancient Egyptians, Cantonese aunties, and people today all have in common?
We leave gifts, stories, and objects behind for those we love.
Death is universal, yet many of us rarely speak about it.
Drawing on ancient artefacts, natural history collections, and contemporary art, this after-hours museum experience will explore how different cultures have understood mortality, remembrance, ancestors, and the possibility of an afterlife.
Together, we will look closely at objects connected to mourning, immortalising, preservation, and care for the dead; think deeply about memory, loss, and legacy; and reflect on humanity’s oldest conversations.
Museums are full of dead things. That is why we invite you to join us to talk about death, and about being alive.
Nicola is an archaeologist and educator specialising in human remains. Her work focuses on ancient medicine, disease, and the lived experiences of ordinary people, exploring the stories their bones still have to tell. As a professionally trained opera singer, Nicola enjoys bringing storytelling, curiosity, and the occasional dramatic flourish to her tours. Her greatest ongoing challenge is convincing her cat that breakfast is not served every fifteen minutes.
Jenny is an art worker and educator. She works across ceramics, non-lens-based photography, and research-and site-responsive installation. Through material investigation and object-centred inquiry, her studio practice speaks to belonging, transcultural narratives, and the layered stories embedded in objects and places. She had a previous professional life in public policy. Jenny is still waiting for a cat to adopt her.
