PROVECTO
2023
Acrylic, graphite and oil on wood
111,3 x 80 x 3,7 cm (each)
“When I look in the mirror, I say to myself: look at what you've come to”
[Olivio Rocha, 86 years old, without family, in a nursing home]
With this series of three oil paintings, I intend to let the viewer analyze each painting and the situation represented in it, through the testimony of the elderly man himself represented through the written word, in order to question society's attitudes and intrinsic behaviors in human beings. Working the body as a container and deposit of life, which only ends when death arrives. All this surrounding aging is related to the isolation, forgetfulness and suffering to which people are subjected.
I intend to portray through each wrinkle on the skin that I paint, the need for care in the elderly's routine, the loss of strength, the fragility and exclusion that lead to the total devaluation of this final phase of life, making it ungrateful that society puts all elderly people “in the same bag” when they reach this age, discarding them completely. As if they had no life story, as if they had contributed absolutely nothing or even as if they had not existed - “The elderly have no way of establishing plans for a dignified life as their existence is considered useless. There is no way or aspect that can overcome the disrespect for their condition within society.” . They are still fascinating people just because they have gotten older. Rui Reininho defines this phase as “feeling orphaned”. These waning beings are important and deserve to be valued, just as we are.
I intend to portray through each wrinkle on the skin that I paint, the need for care in the elderly's routine, the loss of strength, the fragility and exclusion that lead to the total devaluation of this final phase of life, making it ungrateful that society puts all elderly people “in the same bag” when they reach this age, discarding them completely. As if they had no life story, as if they had contributed absolutely nothing or even as if they had not existed - “The elderly have no way of establishing plans for a dignified life as their existence is considered useless. There is no way or aspect that can overcome the disrespect for their condition within society.” . They are still fascinating people just because they have gotten older. Rui Reininho defines this phase as “feeling orphaned”. These waning beings are important and deserve to be valued, just as we are.
For this project, I went to the Santo António Parish Social Center, a nursing home located in Grijó/Vila Nova de Gaia. The intention was to directly contact seniors and take advantage of their voices. For this, I chose to approach Mr. Olivio Rocha, 86 years old, who had and has many stories to tell. I interviewed you, listened to you, and photographed you in all your vulnerability. From the interview, I highlight some expressions said by this gentleman: “She is a terrible soldier"; "Amongst such sick people… There comes a point when I become… one of them"; "We are misunderstood by this selfish society"; "When I look in the mirror, I say to myself: look at what you've come to." For me, these were some of the striking phrases from his speech and it would make sense to highlight them so that the audience, when reading, could perceive and feel a little of his inner revolt that, despite being so personal, he decided to share.
With that, my goal is to continue giving a voice to those who are losing. I feel that this is my role, and what I enjoy doing the most.
Do they stop being fascinating people just because they get older? These dwindling beings feel like orphans and deserve to be valued, just as we are.
With that, my goal is to continue giving a voice to those who are losing. I feel that this is my role, and what I enjoy doing the most.
Do they stop being fascinating people just because they get older? These dwindling beings feel like orphans and deserve to be valued, just as we are.
HOME