Online talk on the often unspoken

DEATH literacy advocate, artist, and librarian Hayley West wants to open up the conversation about our own mortality this Dying to Know Day.

The campaign, created by Australian organisation The GroundSwell Project and recognised on 8 August, encourages people to discuss death and Ms West’s free online event, titled Feed Me to the Roses, focuses on environmentally conscious body disposal methods.

“People are more environmentally conscious in life now and they just haven’t thought about what happens to bodies when they’re dead,” she said.

“I think the idea that you can still be contributing to the planet in a positive way when you’re dead is a really lovely idea that many people just haven’t considered.

“Another aspect of it is that it’s just another way to open up the conversation to a whole bunch of people that haven’t thought about death at all or don’t want to talk about it.”

Her Zoom presentation and open discussion will share information on natural burials, water cremation and human composting.

“Anything I do as death literacy advocate is all about having the conversation about death even with one person. That one person will go back to somebody in their community and talk to them,” she said.

Ms West also hosts Death Cafes, or public gatherings where people can meet for an informal chat about death, and her diverse art practice most often involves an element of social engagement around the subject.

“I have this ongoing project where I collect handmade ceramic vessels from op shops or that people give me, and I make lids for them and turn them into cremation urns. I give them a new life.”

Feed Me to the Roses will be held online on Monday, 9 August from 7pm – 8pm. To register, visit bit.ly/2TIvOzg.