Q&A
In her project 'Our Moments All Alone' Holly Lewis explores feelings of loneliness and vulnerability in relation to old age. Her quiet yet emotive images question both the position of the elderly within our society and the fear of aging that is often experienced by the young.
What inspired you to explore the topic of age?
I was originally attracted to this topic from a sociological point of view, with Britain’s population ageing and there being a lot of media attention focused on the elderly - such as elderly health care provision, people having to work longer and not being able to afford to retire, isolation and vulnerability. These were all issues that I wanted to try to explore through my images. I also wanted to set myself a challenge to work with subjects that I had not worked with before and perhaps learn something from them. I have also tried to explore my own feelings about age and the anxieties I have about the ageing process.
Through these images are you trying to reveal the story of the protagonist to the viewer or do you feel that it is a comment on the aging process in general?
I have tried to show both the story of the protagonist and to comment on the ageing process in general, but the images are also as much to do with me and my feelings as they are the subjects and age. They depict my anxieties surrounding old age, fear of loss, loneliness and death. I have explored these issues through documenting the daily life of my Grandmother and the space in which she lives. The project also addresses loneliness generally, as a common fear. The viewer can relate to the universal fear of loneliness and vulnerability and sympathise with the situation.
Each image in this series seems to be tinged with an air of sadness and loss, is this something that you feel is associated with ageing?
It is something I have associated with ageing from my own experience. It is also something I think we assume to come with old age. The sombre tone of these images is really my own self-projection of my feelings towards old age.
It seems that you have also continued to explore ideas surrounding old age in your project entitled Unknown- do you wish to continue exploring this subject or do you have any other projects lined up for the near future?
Unknown explores the idea of the elderly as the ‘other’ and vulnerable subjects as Britain’s population ages. As the audience view the subjects from behind they become objects, faceless stereotypes. Here I aimed to challenge some of the assumptions made about old age in society. I would like to continue with this project and further explore the stereotypes and assumptions that are made about the elderly in society. I would like to photograph elderly people who are still working long after the state retirement age and explore their lives and challenge society’s views on the elderly
Who and what are your inspirations photographically?
I have been inspired by a variety of photographers but especially by the work of Marjolaine Ryley, Rineke Dijkstra and Laura Pannack
And finally; Tarte au Citron or Tarte aux Pommes?
Bit of both please!