OLD'S COOL: Opening of the exhibition THREATENED SPECIES?
Seniors are identified as a particularly vulnerable group in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to statistics, it is clear that they are at least physically "at risk". But what about psychologically? As part of the OLD'S COOL 2021 festival, the organization Elpida is presenting an exhibition of large-scale photographs. Veronika Ruppert and Bet Orten were inspired by personal stories of seniors about difficult moments in their lives and portrayed how people cope with crisis moments.
The opening will take place on June 17 at 6 pm. The Elpida choir with musician Václav Havelka will also perform. The photographs will be on display on the walls of the Prague Embankment (Rašínovo nábřeží) until 16 August 2021.
"This year's concept we decided to take a more playful approach. We let the imagination of both us and the seniors work more. The result was something that could be called magical realism - we played with their imagination and notions of safety. They imagined what it would be like if they had certain superpowers or if just their good mood could create a special aura that protected them," explains photographer Bet Orten.
Do circumstances related to disease risks and recurrent lockdowns affect the elderly more than younger generations? Or have they experienced more challenging times in their lifetime? What if, on the contrary, their rich life experience gives them the ability to perceive crisis situations with perspective? Or do old scars make it harder?
The aim of the exhibition THREATENED DRUH? is to share the stories of the people featured in the photographs. Six seniors answered the following questions. And what has helped or is helping you overcome them? A special website www.elpida.cz/oldscool was created for the exhibition , where you can find all the stories and photos.
"This is the seventh year we've been exhibiting and I still love the idea. It's not usual to see seniors as models in a public space. The OLD'S COOL festival is a good way to change the mood in society in this way," said Bronislava Hilliová, head of cultural projects at Elpida, about the exhibition.
The courageous and open-minded people who stood in front of the camera and shared their storiesZora Dobiášová, Monika Pošívalová, Pavla Tůmová, Zdeněk Ekl, Alois Pihera and Otakar Pinkas.
With the Old's Cool campaign, Elpida has been pointing out for 7 years that ageing is not only connected with illness, physical hardship, poverty or economic dependence on the young. Most seniors do not need our pity, compassion or intensive care. They represent a much more diverse social group than that presented by the current media. Many seniors deserve our respect and attention for their wealth of experience and what they have accomplished in life.
Photos and an excerpt from Monika's story
I've had more really difficult times. In 1968 half of our family emigrated and then in the 1980s our son disappeared to the West without any prior warning. He left no note, we didn't know where he had disappeared to until we got a call from a friend of his saying he was safe in France.
I always immersed myself in work or some new activity at such moments.
I always found it helpful to be in the theatre and to have people to work with. And I'm an optimist. When they found a cancerous tumor and I went into surgery, I never for a moment doubted that it would not turn out well.
An excerpt from Zdeněk's story and images from the photo shoot
Remembering the most difficult period is still not easy for me. It was the time when, after 48 years of living together, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. After months of treatment, surgery, therapy and hope, the turning point came and I was left alone. It was horrible. You refuse to accept this fact, you don't believe it and you hate all the people around you just because they live, walk, talk when you are in such pain. And what helped me get through those difficult times? It was June and both my daughters and their families had a paid vacation in Croatia. They decided to take me with them. Every night we talked about their mom and reminisced about her. You can't imagine how helpful this therapy is. I re-lived my whole life with the grateful listeners and after the holiday I was out of the worst of it.
The author duo Orten and Ruppert have been working with Elpida, which has long been dedicated to promoting active ageing, breaking down stereotypes associated with it and intergenerational dialogue, for seven years. The work of contemporary young photographer Bet Orten oscillates between fashion photography, documentary, portraiture and landscape photography. Veronika Ruppert can be known as a journalist, dramaturge and presenter of the Czech Radio, Radio Wave.
How was the photography process? We offer a making-of video by Lukáš Masner https://vimeo.com/545082917/53977cbdf9.
Media contactIvetaČížová ~ iveta.cizova@elpida.cz ~ +420 773 480 505
Elpida means hope in Greek. But it is also the name of an organization that helps seniors become a confident and respected part of society. In the spirit of the Old's Cool motto, Elpida is changing the way people look at old age - it runs the Elpida Educational and Cultural Centre for seniors fromPrague and the Senior Crisis Line, founded the brand Socks from Grandma, publishes the magazine VITAL, and organises the intergenerational Old's Cool festival. In short, she is trying to make Czech seniors lead a full & happy life.