Artworks

The Mourning After explored grief across scales—personal, cultural, ecological and digital—through works by leading Australian and international artists. Visitors encountered grief not just as absence but as a continuing presence: a thread woven through ritual, storytelling, environment and technology.

The exhibition spaned ecological grief (Heather Hesterman, Shahee Ilyas, Lauren Berkowitz), the Digital Anthropocene (Megan Cope, Centre for Reworlding), anticipatory grief (Machine Listening), mourning as ritual and connection (Vicki Couzens, Maree Clarke, The Death Letter Project), and grief as a lifelong companion (Annie Frost Nicholson, Lara Thoms, Paula Mahoney). These works were invitations to reflect on different textures and scales of mourning, and to consider how creative practices might help us reimagine care and connection.

Artists include: Lauren Berkowitz, Centre for Reworlding including Claire G. Coleman (Noongar) and Jen Rae (Métis) in collaboration with High Volume, Maree Clarke (Mutti Mutti/Yorta Yorta and Boon Wurrung/Wemba Wemba), Megan Cope (Quandamooka), Vicki Couzens (Keerray Woorroong Gunditjmara), Heather Hesterman, Shahee Ilyas, Machine Listening (Sean Dockray, James Parker, Joel Stern), Paula Mahoney, Annie Frost Nicholson, The Death Letter Project (Tina FiveAsh), and Lara Thoms (APHIDS).

Alongside the artworks, workshops invite public participation through poetry, mapping, movement and making—expanding how we witness grief and share meaning.

RMIT Design Hub Gallery

Photos by Christian Capurro.