The session will explore the aftermath of the Black Death in medieval Europe, examining how the devasting experience of plague changed the cultural orientation toward death and dying, both in practices of commemorating and marking death and in attempts to articulate the experience of loss in art and literature. At the same time, the session will address how the legacy of the Black Death resonates with and diverges from our recent experience of the COVID pandemic.

Turning to more recent contexts, the session will conclude by considering how individual works of art and literature, including pieces emerging from the AIDS pandemic, can challenge prevailing medical or cultural discourses surrounding death and trauma, offering new ways of thinking about empathy, care, and representation.

Art and Storytelling: Sparking Conversations on Death and Dying

By SIM Bee Hia, Singapore Hospice Council

This presentation, "Art and Storytelling: Sparking Conversations on Death and Dying," shares how art and narratives enhance conversations and community engagements on palliative care.  The session will showcase anecdotes and examples of how art, music, visuals and a storytelling approach drives advocacy and community engagement to connect and start conversations on death and dying.