Indigenous artist Nathan Maynard wants dead British body for art project

A City of Hobart-sponsored art project is looking for a person of British descent to donate their future deceased body for use as an art installation to “sacrifice for past sins”.

Aboriginal artist Nathan Maynard. Photo – Peter Mathew

A City of Hobart sponsored art project is looking for a person of British descent to donate their future deceased body for use as an art installation.

Trawlwoolway artist Nathan Maynard is the man behind the project.

The well known playwright, writer and producer put ads in mainland papers searching for someone to be involved in the macabre project.

In the advertisement that ran in the The Age last Saturday it read “The work will speak to sacrifice for past sins perpetrated against the palawa.”

Aboriginal artist Nathan Maynard. Photo – Peter Mathew

“Potential applicants should see this opportunity as an honour. The body and the memory of the successful applicant will be treated with the utmost respect at all stages of the project.”

The ad has caused a stir in some circles but Mr Maynard said he was serious about the project.

Speaking to the Australian he revealed the idea was to make Australians think more deeply about how far they were willing to go to support First Nations people.

“I want people to ask: What am I prepared to do for Aboriginal Australians?” Maynard said. “I don’t expect everyone would want to donate their dead body. That’s a huge ask, I’m aware of that. But hopefully it starts a conversation in loungerooms, in offices around Australia and internationally.”

Acting City of Hobart CEO Kat Panjari said the council was a proud supporter of Hobart Current, the program sponsoring Mr Maynard and other artists to the tune of $220,000.

“The City of Hobart, in partnership with the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, is a proud supporter of Hobart Current,” Ms Panjari said.

“Hobart Current is a council sponsored biennial exhibition designed to nurture and showcase contemporary artists across different media including visual art, performance, music, film, design and literature.

“Through this project, the city is supporting local and emerging artists to exhibit their work.

“The City of Hobart funds the event through a $220,000 biennial partnership, however the Creative Director is selected by TMAG, who has independently commissioned the artists to feature in Hobart Current.

“This year’s event, entitled Epoch, features 10 artists, including six from Tasmania.

“Art is powerful when it is thought-provoking and challenging.”

The laws and regulations around using dead bodies in art installations vary by country and state. In Tasmania, the use of dead bodies in art installations is regulated by the Anatomy Act 1965, which outlines the rules for the use of human tissue for medical and scientific purposes.

Under this act, the use of human tissue, including dead bodies, for non-medical or non-scientific purposes is strictly regulated and requires prior approval from the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services.