Igniting conversations as ‘you’ age
A public art installation, created by aged care provider, Feros Care, aims to get the conversation started on how people interpret growing older.
A public art installation, created by aged care provider, Feros Care, aims to get the conversation started on how people interpret growing older.
The oversized, stand alone chalkboard – known as the 'As I age' board – is centre stage at this year’s Cooly Rocks (29 May-7 June), and asks people to finish the sentence 'As I age'.
Cooly Rocks is a 1950s and 60s nostalgia festival in Australia, with rock 'n roll, rockabilly, swing music and more than 1,000 hot rods, custom cars and classic vehicles lining the beachfront of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.
The 'Age I age' community project has been adapted from the popular 'Before I Die' installations by Taiwanese-American artist, Candy Chang. There are more than 550 'Before I Die' walls in over 35 languages and 70 countries.
Jennene Buckley, Feros Care chief executive, says the project is all about igniting conversation about growing older.
“In the 24 hours since the 'As I age' board has had its first public outing, we’re already seeing so many different comments and thoughts. People of all ages are stopping, reading and contributing to the board,” Ms Buckley says.
“This is one of the biggest and most provocative community campaigns Feros has ever done. We work hard to constantly challenge the perceptions and stereotypes of ageing. This public art installation is impossible to ignore, as is ageing,” she adds.
Feros Care urges everyone to “help get the conversation started”, and be part of the changing face of ageing.
Some of the many comments to be chalked include:
- 'As I age… I don’t want to be homeless.'
- 'As I age… I want to live to love and be loved, and to embrace my future and freedom.'
- 'As I age… I realise life is too short…be happy.'
- 'As I age… I would like respect.'
- 'As I age… I want to be happy and sexy!'
- 'As I age… I ache.'
- 'As I age… I long to be with family.'
- 'As I age… I do not giggle with a full bladder.'
“These comments aren’t always comfortable to read but they are the reality, and by getting people to share their perspective, we can aim to make getting older better,” Ms Buckley says.
The 'As I age' board will be at Cooly Rocks until Sunday (7 June 2015).
Thereafter, it will then appear at:
- Byron Bay Writers Festival (7-9 August)
- Melbourne Writers Festival (20-30 August)
- Brisbane Writers Festival (2-6 September)
