What do people think about life, when they are living with the prospect of dying soon? What gives them joy? Have they had dreams or visions about death or the hereafter? How do they feel about dying?
I asked forty people receiving palliative care questions about life, dreams and dying. Photographing them while they answered these intimate and complex questions, this series reveals the wisdom and belief systems of those living with life-limiting illness. Part digital storytelling and part memento mori, the photographs, text and sound provide poignant and profound insights into the lives of those receiving palliative care, conveying what really matters to them at the end of their lives.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following material may contain images and words of deceased people.
Over 100,000 people have attended the various exhibitions, and over 3,000 copies of the book have been sold.
Sponsored by Palliative Care Victoria
Exhibitions
2018, Eastbank, Shepparton
2017, Alexandra Hospital, Alexandra
2017, Seymour Library, Seymour
2017, Kilmore Library, Kilmore2016, The Dreamers, Queen’s Hall, Parliament House, Melbourne
2016, The Dreamers, Shepparton Library, Shepparton
2016, The Dreamers, Fitzroy Library, Melbourne
2015, The Dreamers projection, Metanoia Theatre, Melbourne
2015, The Dreamers, Ballarat International Foto Biennale
2015, The Dreamers, Melbourne City Library, Melbourne
2015, The Dreamers, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell
Publication
The Dreamers, by Pippa Wischer, Palliative Care Victoria, 2014
Review by Emeritus Professor Ian Maddocks AM
Book available from Palliative Care Victoria.
National Library of Australia listing
Parliament of Victoria – Hansard
17/08/16 Mentioned by Mr Ben Carroll MP and Ms Sonya Kilkenny MP
The Dreamers Hansard 17Aug16.pdf [0.13 MB]