“To die means to live better.”

STARDUST is a participatory  installation-cum-performances. It looks at dying as an act of  empowerment, self-transformation and radical care to address the social,  political and ecological crises that we are currently facing. STARDUST is as much an artistic meditation on dying as it is on living. It hopes  to give a glimpse of how closely interconnected we are to each other as humans, as well as to all non-humans and the  natural world. By dying, we also let the power structures inscribed in  us die, opening up the space for a future that is more caring and  socially and ecologically just.

Over a period of eight days, STARDUST unfolds  as an interactive, sensorial and living installation. Visitors are  invited to write their own eulogies, listen to an audio guide  (“Instructions for Dying”) or join in an intimate conversation about  dying. The overarching narrative follows the eight stages of death transformation in Tibetan Buddhism: Earth, Water, Fire,  Air, White Light, Red Light, Black Light and Clear Light. Based  on this, the sound, light and video designs of the installation  transform over the eight days. In addition, live sound recordings and an  infrared tracking system are used to create a constantly changing live  installation.

As part of the installation, seven  performers (30 – 64 years old) take turns to perform their individual  dying rituals each day. Their themes range from collective burial,  letting go and disappearance to healing, remembering and connectedness.  On the final day, they perform a group ritual, in which all the eulogies  created are turned into dust – a reminder that we are all made of  stardust.

✿ This is designed as Relaxed Installation and Performances.