death: the human experience
death: the human experience was about the most universal of experiences that we will encounter.
Hundreds of incredibly diverse objects – from a Ghanaian fantasy coffin to a Victorian mourning dress – revealed captivating stories from cultures across the world, from the earliest human societies to the modern day.
The exhibition encouraged visitors to consider ethical issues, different attitudes to dying and how different cultures have dealt with the end of life.
As a society we are reluctant to talk about death and dying. This exhibition was about helping to start that conversation. Winner of ‘Most Innovative Death Public Engagement Event’ at the Good Funeral Awards 2016.
More about the exhibition
- February 2016: death: the human experience celebrates 50k visitors
- February 2016: Listen to the Death Professionals in Conversation event on 5 February online
- January 2016: Dealing with death as part of working life
- January 2016: death: is it your right to choose?
- October 2015: Behind the scenes – installing the exhibition
- October 2015: 14 symbols of death from our collection
Photos of the exhibition
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery would like to thank:
Exhibition supporter: Wellcome Trust
Exhibition Sponsor: The Co-operative Funeralcare
With additional support from Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives and Bristol and Avon Archaeological Society.
