Exhibition dealing with death goes to the heartlands

SINGAPORE — After a successful run last year, the Lien Foundation is taking an interactive exhibition about death and dying to the heartlands in a bid to capture a wider spectrum of the public.

The Both Sides, Now event, organised in collaboration with Ang Chin Moh Foundation, was held for the first time at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital last year and drew about 8,000 people to its participatory arts activities, dialogues and performances. This year’s exhibit will be held in Nee Soon South, near Khatib MRT Station, and Toa Payoh Central.

Produced by Drama Box and ArtsWok, this year’s event allows participants to visually chart their high and low points in life on a board and make a miniature paper coffin to imagine their final resting place. They can also climb into a coffin as part of an exercise aimed at getting them to reflect on death.

Speaking at the event’s launch in Nee Soon South yesterday, Lien Foundation CEO Lee Poh Wah said: “We’ve got to recognise dying is not only a medical event, it is also actually part of the ageing process. It is a complex social and family event in life.” The use of the arts allows death to be discussed on a platform that gives meaning, dignity and beauty, he added.

Madam Lee Wai Ying, 57, a volunteer at the event, said that in her visits to nursing homes, she had found that senior citizens are open to discussing death — particularly about their physical and mental well-being as well as how their families would cope with their passing. However, their families and the younger generation have appeared more hesitant. “We need to facilitate them (the younger generation), so they will talk about it,” she added.

Mdm Ong Chwee Siang, 61, one of the 20 residents from Adventist Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre who visited the exhibition yesterday, concurred. “When I discuss (the issue) with my family, they will avoid the conversation altogether,” she said.

Another resident, Mdm Si Toh Lui, 90, hoped what little money she leaves behind would be divided evenly among her family and that they would maintain a good relationship.

Other highlights of this year’s exhibition are a short film featuring people’s thoughts on death by filmmaker Jasmine Ng and talks on the basics of a Lasting Power of Attorney and writing a will. The event will be held in Nee Soon South till Sunday and in Toa Payoh Central from Sept 26 to 28.