The Fabric of Dying: How a Stitched Map Sparks End-of-Life Talks

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Ever wondered if a simple box of fabric and words could unlock the toughest chats about dying? In this episode, I dive into the world of the Bioscope with Chetan Shastri, a Melbourne designer who's turned death into a navigable map – literally. It’s not some dusty chart; it’s a tactile, embroidered toolkit that sparks real talk about end-of-life wishes, from home to hospice, without the awkward silence.

Chetan shares how his Indian roots, from street bioscopes with spinning films to his mum’s hand-stitched embroidery, fused with global adventures in Cambodia’s mass funerals and India’s ‘city of death’ in Varanasi. Back in Australia, he wrestled with our hospital-heavy approach to dying, creating the Bioscope to decolonise death – reclaiming it from white coats and back to heartfelt conversations. We chat about his PhD journey, co-designing with palliative pros at places like Peter Mac and Alfred Health, and how this award-winning tool (shoutout to the Victorian Premier's Design Awards and Design Outlook) helps folks grieve, plan, and even cry it out at community sessions.

It’s a reminder that facing death head-on isn’t morbid – it’s what makes life authentic. Chetan’s work shows design can bridge cultures and taboos, turning ‘the end’ into a shared story. 

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Bioscope origins from Indian cinema boxes to fabric map of dying sites like hospital and hospice.
• Global death rituals from Varanasi wood pyres to Cambodia delayed funerals.
• Decolonising death from medical control to cultural conversations.
• Co-designing with palliative experts at Peter Mac and Alfred, award wins and community use.

Resources & links mentioned:

Kashmir Map Shawl 

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Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/