In this workshop artist/Photographer Tina FiveAsh introduces The Death Letter Project, a three-year undertaking, during which she invited fifty Australians to write a letter responding to: What is death? What happens when we die?
The project’s fifty letters, accompanied by photographic portraits of each contributor, provide a glimpse into the diversity of thoughts, beliefs, and experiences surrounding death in contemporary Australian society.
Tina will share some of the letters and photographs from the project and open up the discussion for you to share your own thoughts, beliefs and experiences in response to What is death? What happens when we die?
The later part of the workshop will provide you with the opportunity to reflect and write your own letter, with the option to display your letter in a special exhibition space for the duration of the festival.
Tina Fiveash is an Australian photo-artist who has been exhibiting for 25 years. Winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 2013 Olive Cotton Award for Photographic Portraiture, Tina’s work most recently was selected as a finalist in the prestigious 2016 National Portrait Prize, the 64th Blake Prize and the 2017 Olive Cotton Award. Her work has appeared on billboards, illuminated public advertising spaces, film, television, book and magazine covers, as well as in exhibitions and festivals throughout the world.
Currently, Tina is undertaking a PhD at The Australian National University, Research School of Humanities and the Arts, Majoring in Visual Arts. Investigating intersections between art, science, and spirituality, Tina is exploring experimental photographic approaches to the visual representation of death and imagined conceptions of an afterlife, based on scientific studies into near-death experience.
Shona Bridge (Yoga Teacher) is: Guest speaker #1 for Tina Fiveash Death Letter workshop.
Ellen Hewitt (artist and photographic curator) is: Guest speaker #2 for Tina Fiveash Death Letter workshop. Also photographer for event. Website: ellenhewittart.com