Linz museum brings death back into the city’s story

A new exhibition at the Nordico City Museum in Linz explores death, funerals and mourning, examining how they have shaped the city’s history. ORF reports that “Death Positive. Death happens all the time” invites visitors to discuss a subject often pushed to the margins of society.

Museum director Andrea Bina said the museum had waited three years for the right moment to present the exhibition. The centenary of the Urfahr urn cemetery provided the occasion.

The exhibition looks at how burial customs have changed in Linz. Before a cemetery reform under Joseph II, burial grounds were part of the cityscape. When they were moved to the outskirts, death became less visible in everyday life. A grand funeral was once an important social event in Linz; the last cited example was the 1927 procession for Mayor Josef Dametz.

Works of art, installations and video interviews with experts explore vanished burial places and changing funeral practices. Curator Klaudia Kreslehner says speaking openly about death can help people live more consciously.

The international Death Positive movement encourages discussion of dying, death and grief. The exhibition also includes a section on planning personal farewells and recording individual wishes. “Last Aid” focuses on supporting people in the final stages of life, while “Stardust” addresses losses without a tangible sense of closure. Visitors can share thoughts and rituals in the “Archive of Memories.”