Every Ocean Hughes's 'One Big Bag' at Studio Voltaire Reimagines Death Through a Death Doula's Perspective

Every Ocean Hughes presented the immersive film installation 'One Big Bag' at Studio Voltaire in London from 28 January to 17 April 2022. The work features a 40-minute monologue-performance by Lindsay Rico, who portrays a charismatic young woman of color reimagining Charon, the mythological ferryman, as a 'death doula.' This guide assists individuals and their loved ones through end-of-life processes administratively, emotionally, and psychologically, addressing deficiencies in medical and death infrastructures. The installation includes floating objects suspended from ropes above the floor, reminiscent of Cornelia Parker's style, which represent supplies and props used in death care rituals. These items range from embalming kits to scents and fabrics for decorating mourning spaces. Rico's performance blends personal anecdotes, philosophical reflections on death and grief, and critiques of racism and gender-normativity in healthcare and funeral industries. She emphasizes the importance of paperwork for LGBTQI+ individuals to ensure their chosen families are recognized during care. The work highlights agency in death, encouraging viewers to consider how they wish to be honored on their own terms. Through poetic and bodily engagement, 'One Big Bag' offers a tangible confrontation with mortality amid widespread collective anxiety.