Lecture series 2024

In the Spring of 2024, we invited a broad audience to a four-part lecture series in which they could listen and talk to researchers about various societal challenges related to death care.

In the panel on the left, you can find more information on each lecture. 

• 19/02/2024: Dealing with human remains, with Maarten Larmuseau, Marie-Sophie de Clippele and Tamara Ingels (Dutch)
• 18/03/2024: Death care in times of crisis, with Halina Suwalowska, Joanna Wojtkowiak, and Sarah Ouwerkerk (English)
• 15/04/2024: Intercultural rituals and death care, with Yvon van der Pijl, Chaïma Ahaddour and Naoual El Yattouti (Dutch)
• 27/05/2024: The green death, with Lisa Doeland, Brenda Mathijssen, and Evy Kempenaers (Dutch)

“The Nobodies”: Exploring the ethics of caring for unidentified dead bodies ​

From Februari until May 2024, we hosted this free art exhibition on the topic of death care in the stairway of the R building (going towards -1). 

Embark on a poignant journey into the realm of compassion and humanity with "The Nobodies," an exhibition featuring large-scale paintings by Anna Suwalowska. 

This thought-provoking collection delves deep into the ethical considerations surrounding the care and remembrance of unidentified dead people, inviting viewers to contemplate our collective responsibility towards the forgotten and unseen. Identification represents one of the most basic of all human rights. Yet according to the academic journals, every year, high numbers of dead people across the globe remain unidentified, and their bodies are never returned to their families or communities. The ensuing 'ambiguous loss' (Boss 2007) leaves these families in a state of limbo, often resulting in psychological problems. 

"The Nobodies" serves as a powerful connection to the often-overlooked individuals who occupy the periphery of society, exploring the ethical dimensions of providing dignity and respect to those who remain nameless even in death. The paintings titled 'Eternal Roots' and 'Sleeping' create a visual narrative that transcends the boundaries of real and unseen and collective, with the artist sharing her subconscious visions on this ‘silent mass disaster’. Suwalowska's paintings capture the essence of compassion and challenge us to confront the broader ethical implications of our societal treatment of unidentified dead people, giving a general focus on death and life as our deep hidden narrative and enigma in life.

Anna Suwalowska, a London-based Polish artist, holds degrees from the Royal College of Art in London (2013) and the Camberwell College of Art (2011). She brings a unique perspective to her work at the intersection of art, medicine, and science. Rooted in extensive explorations of the subconscious, self-expression, and the human mind, her art leads to ongoing research on psychological landscapes. Her paintings serve as a basis for interdisciplinary collaborations involving practitioners from diverse fields. Most recently, Anna has served as the Artistic Director of a collaborative project in McGregor Museum, Kimberley. Before this role, Anna collaborated with researchers and practitioners from various institutions, including the University of Oxford, the University of Exeter, the University of Cape Town, and the McGregor Museum in South Africa. A significant achievement of these partnerships is the solo exhibition 'Beyond the Body: a portrait of Autopsy' (2020-2023), which challenges societal taboos surrounding death. This exhibition was showcased in esteemed medical institutions across Europe, the UK, and South Africa. It was selected by the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organisation, to illustrate how behavioural and cultural factors contribute to improving health outcomes for individuals, communities, and the planet. Anna's artistic journey is marked by her international exhibitions and residency awards in Taiwan, Norway, and Hong Kong. Her most recent solo show, 'Psychological Landscapes' (2003), was featured at the Somers Gallery in Somers Town, London.