Beyond Memory

The time our society dedicates to the elderly is minimal. This absence robs them of their hope, joy, and enthusiasm. Being excluded from social and family circles, older adults are treated as passive subjects who merely subsist among memories and nostalgia. The world of power, competition, and production excludes anyone deemed unproductive. This supposed incapacity leads to the denial of their social attributes, and it is in this context that the human rights of the elderly acquire a one-dimensional perspective, serving as both a cause and a consequence of various forms of discrimination.

This photographic essay stems from two years of research. It explores the concept of old age in contemporary society and its direct relationship with the recognition of human rights for this social group. The images portray a population that, increasingly alienated from the world around them, struggles to survive amid exclusion, illness, loneliness, and silence.

The social perception of aging has varied across different cultures and historical periods. Until the late 19th century, the Inuit people of Alaska believed that individuals who, due to age, could no longer contribute to the subsistence of their families should be abandoned in the open sea to die. Conversely, for Indigenous communities in South America, old age symbolizes wisdom, the historical archive of the community, and the most significant source of decision-making. In modern culture, aging is often perceived with a pathological undertone, shaping a paradigm that disregards the demographic realities of the 21st century. According to the United Nations, in the next ten years, the global population of people over 60 will reach one billion. The report states:

“Fifteen percent of the population in the Americas will be over 60 by 2030. In fact, in 2009, for the first time in history, there were more people over 60 than children under five. By 2011, there were two young people for every elderly person; by 2028, there will only be one young person per elderly individual. By 2040, the proportion of elderly people will surpass that of the young.”

Society must confront unexpected challenges related to the aging process, making it essential to adapt aspects such as healthcare, education, human rights policies, pension systems, and social security to meet the needs of an increasingly aging population. One of the main concerns explored in this photographic essay is whether those in their productive years truly understand the struggles of older adults—enough to promote and protect their rights with the awareness that today’s actions will shape their own future. Addressing this issue is the best way to ensure success in a world that is growing older.

From a visual perspective, the project takes a documentary approach that immerses itself in the intimate reality of the elderly. Wide shots establish the subject’s relationship with their environment. Most of the work was carried out inside their homes, presenting a challenge in lighting management to create plays of shadows, backlighting, and subtle movements that reflect the ghostly nature of a reality society refuses to acknowledge.

The essay as a whole aims to present a dignified vision of old age despite the harsh reality it unveils. For this reason, the vibrant colors of certain room decorations were intentionally incorporated. During post-production, we discovered an unexpected element: in two selected images, an elderly man’s face was coincidentally captured on television screens—an eerie yet real detail that underscores our theme and fuels the hope that aging ceases to be a ghostly presence in society.

Globally, every second, two people turn 60 years old. In light of this reality, a concerted effort is required—both at the state and civil levels—to ensure that older individuals are recognized as active participants in development rather than mere recipients of welfare. To harness the opportunities arising from an aging population, it is essential to educate young people on what it means to age with dignity, leverage technology to promote active aging, secure basic needs, and maintain the independence of the elderly. This would put an end to the false belief that the knowledge and experience of older adults are obsolete or irrelevant.

All the grandparents featured in this photographic series agree: if they could turn back time, they would devote themselves more to love than to productivity—because, according to them, that is the secret to eternal youth.