Inspired by my own experiences as the executor of my parents’ will after I was orphaned, this exhibition brings together art and artworks concerned with funerary, mourning and memorial themes from six cultures to highlight the universality of grief and the momentous weight of responsibility that falls to the bereaved. As you explore this collection, I invite you to meditate on the mundane realities of each piece and the work that went into their creation. Consider the level of craftsmanship required, the tools available, the cost and organizational labour of commissioning works, the length of time associated with completing each piece, and the extent to which the deceased must have been adored for their loved ones to endure it all.