Description of Photography Project “Wrinkles of Existence”
Photography Project “Wrinkles of Existence”
"This project started with Rosemarie. I met her in Munich the year I’d turned 40, a milestone year, rightly or wrongly. She was 73, a few years past another big marker, or at least that's what I thought at the time. When we met, I was struggling to understand how I felt about ageing, about getting older as a woman, about how I saw and should see myself. Western values and Munich’s superficiality sparred daily with my outlook and better instincts. Rosemarie changed all that. She's technically old, but more youthful than ever, one of the most vivacious and vibrant people I've ever met. And she is because living is what matters to her; ageing's a mere side effect. She was a recalibration, a mirror of sorts. I saw some of myself in her, but wanted to see more. And more than anything, I wanted to take her picture.”
Growing old is a part of life, perhaps its most base. We are born, we age, and we one day die in a progression natural, unalterable, and inevitable. Our only choices regarding aging are how we go about it. Some try to forestall or manipulate this process. Wrinkles are undeniable reminders of mortality, and as such, most people fight back, employing facelifts, Botox, and other assorted treatments. They try desperately not to look their age, seemingly oblivious to the fact that nothing makes one look older than trying for perpetual youth.
Others celebrate the wisdom that is aging on a path of acceptance, self-awareness, and peace. These souls radiate vitality. They are open to growth and possibilities. Comfortable in their own skin, space, and time, they rarely take themselves too seriously, instead enjoying chosen pursuits and environments. These are the people pictured here. “Wrinkles of Existence” is an ongoing portraiture series about aging and the choices we all face. Everyone you see is at least 70, many are older. Some are famous, some unknown, yet all have approached the inevitable on singular terms. All are inspirational, choosing to celebrate life rather than anticipate death. They’ve grown older honestly, with intent. Ultimately they’ve chosen to live rather than age, and their faces are testament to their choices.