Toronto Exhibit Uses Art to Stimulate Conversations About Dying

Dying.exhibit 2024, a concept designed to change the narrative around end of life, is currently on display through January 28 at the Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) University in Toronto, Canada.

Described as an exhibit where art, culture and contemporary end-of-life issues collide, the exhibit invites visitors to “get comfortable with the uncomfortable and start talking about what truly matters.” The goal is to empower the public to think about death as part of the human experience.

An interactive piece in Dying.exhibit 2023: “Cairn” (1907) by Sandra Gregson

The conversation starters are interactive and participatory works of art created by a variety of designers and artists. Through the process of touching, manipulating, observing and walking through these engaging works, the exhibit aims to provoke dialogues on topics people tend to avoid: fragility, death, dying, loss and grief.

An artistic installation in Dying.exhibit 2023: “Tracing Your Ghost II” by Amberlie Perkin

The exhibit is the brainchild of the Dying.series collective, founded by Maria Chueng, CEO at Taboo Health, Karen Oikonen, and Dr. Kate Sellen, Director of the Health Design Studio at OCAD University.

Created to explore what matters at the end of life, Dying. brings together perspectives from families, caregivers, clinicians and research.

A participatory installation at Dying.exhibit 2023: “Time Moving 4” by Kate Sellen and Karen Oikonen

In its fifth year, the exhibit is part of DesignTO, billed as Canada’s premiere design festival. Previous Dying. events have collectively attracted more than 5,000 attendees and showcased 29 artists and designers.