Nostos Salon 05

An engaging salon event at the beautiful Smith Street Studio for thoughtful conversation over shared seasonal food and curated wines.

Nostos is an intimate afternoon salon series by Anthrōprospective at Smith Street Studio in Collingwood, inner Melbourne. Inspired by the ancient Greek concept of nostos [νόστος]—a longing to return home, this gathering invites us back: to community, to place, to self, and to one another. In a time of disconnection, Nostos is a return to slow, thoughtful conversation shared over a warm meal.

How do I get to Smith Street Studio?

The entrance to the studio is off Little Oxford St, Collingwood – via a small lane between 77 and 79 Little Oxford. Head up the end of the lane and you will find the studio on the far left directly next door to Studio Pancho.

Theme: The Anthropology of Death

Our upcoming Nostos gathering turns its attention to one of life’s only certainties: death. In a culture that often avoids or sanitises mortality, this conversation invites us to approach death not as a taboo, but as a deeply human, social, and cultural phenomenon. As religious affiliation declines and traditional rituals shift, how are we reimagining the ways we grieve, memorialise, and care for the dead, and for one another?

Through the lens of anthropology, we’ll explore how societies make meaning around mortality, from cremation and green burials to Buddhist death rites and the material afterlives of objects. What happens to our “stuff” when we die? How do emerging technologies, sustainability movements, and changing spiritual landscapes reshape end-of-life practices? And what does modern grief look like, whether mourning a parent, navigating funeral etiquette, or grieving a beloved pet?

We are delighted to welcome Hannah Gould, cultural anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Buddhist Studies at the University of Melbourne. Hannah’s research explores death, Buddhism, and material culture across Australia and North-East Asia, examining new traditions and technologies of Buddhist death rites, the lifecycle of religious materials, and contemporary lifestyle movements. Alongside her academic work, she advocates for more equitable systems of deathcare and brings a compassionate, practical, and surprisingly hopeful approach to conversations about mortality.

This afternoon salon invites participants into an open, thoughtful dialogue about how we might confront death with greater curiosity and courage. Together, we’ll explore how speaking about mortality can deepen our appreciation of life, reshape our rituals, and help us build more conscious, humane approaches to care, remembrance, and the inevitable.

Whether you’re curious about anthropology, seeking connection with new friends over good food and drinks, or simply drawn to deep conversation, Nostos offers a place at the table. Come as you are - all are welcome.

Ticket price includes light refreshments and generous servings of wine or non-alcoholic drinks kindly provided by our event sponsors Natural Order Wines and NON. Please indicate your dietary requirements at booking. See below for frequently asked questions.