Socially Engaged Image Making in Aged Care
And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible - Wallsend
Residents of Summit Care Wallsend use Miru to make self portraits.
Recently, we had the privilege of working with the wonderful residents and staff at Summit Care Wallsend as part of our ongoing photo-storytelling project, And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible. This project honours the elders in our communities, whose stories carry a lifetime of wisdom, experience, and resilience. As socially-engaged artists and photographers, we’ve always been driven by the belief that every story matters—especially those of our elders.
When we received funding to run this project in Wallsend, Summit Care immediately stood out to us because of its strong focus on community and its commitment to the holistic well-being of its residents. Their openness to creative approaches made it an ideal setting for this kind of project.Miru
Hannah supports Trevor as he learns to use the trigger to make a portrait of himself with Miru.
Through a series of self-portrait and storytelling workshops, we introduced the residents to our proprietary self-portrait system, Miru, which means "to look, watch, and see" in Japanese. We supported the residents as they created their own self-portraits. Miru is more than just a photography tool—it’s a reflective experience that empowers individuals to explore self-representation in a deeply personal and meaningful way. By guiding residents through this process, we encouraged new ways of seeing and understanding themselves, fostering self-connection and reflection.
Margaret used Miru to make a self portrait while chatting and sharing more about her life.
In addition to the workshops, we spent time with residents in their rooms, listening to their life stories and capturing visual representations of their living spaces. These intimate encounters were profoundly moving, reminding us of the vast wisdom and strength held by our elders. This is what drives And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible—creating space for new narratives around ageing, isolation, and ageism through the transformative power of storytelling and photography.
Our work extended beyond the walls of Summit Care and into the broader Wallsend community. We also had the opportunity to work alongside elders still living in their homes, guiding them through a similar process of image-making, story-sharing, and creative collaboration.
Margaret sits in her beautifully decorated room at Summit Care Wallsend.
Margaret holds the blanket her mother made for her before she was born.
Margaret's younger self.
To place the final stories into the world, we created a street exhibition, installing portraits and the narratives in a number of shop windows along the main street. This exhibition was more than just a display—it was an invitation for people to connect with our elders, to engage with their stories, and to reflect on the richness of their lives.
Margaret's self portrait is included at the beginning of the And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible street exhibition on Nelson Street in Wallsend (August 2024).
Dennis shares his self portraits and reflections as part of the street exhibition And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible - Wallsend (August 2024)
Children look the self portraits made by the residents at Summit Care Wallsend as part of the And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible street exhibition (August 2024).
At And Then, we engage in photography as a social practice, inviting participation and connection within communities to help them tell their own stories. We collaborate with communities rather than creating for an audience. This shift in dynamics—where participants take ownership of their narratives—fosters authentic dialogue and collective storytelling. Through this process, we build deeper relationships, raise consciousness, and nurture empathy.
Working with Summit Care has been a deeply rewarding experience that aligns perfectly with our vision for And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible, to use photo storytelling to develop social and creative connections with older adults. Our goal is to foster a sense of belonging, to listen, and to co-create with individuals who can often feel invisible in society. By providing a platform for them to share their stories, we collectively reshape perceptions of ageing and build more inclusive communities. Each story shared, and every image created, adds to a collective narrative that challenges traditional perceptions of ageing, isolation, and ageism.
Melanie spends time with Ray, reflecting on his life story, his archival images and supports him to make a series of self portraits with Miru.
Our time at Summit Care Wallsend was a testament to the power of storytelling and human connection. We are truly grateful to the residents and staff for welcoming us into their community and allowing us to be part of their stories.
If you're interested in learning more about our work or exploring a collaboration, we would love to hear from you.
Dennis shares one of his self portraits and a little of the story of how he came to live in aged care.
This project was made possible with thanks to:
🔅 The generous people (and their families) who wholeheartedly embraced the process of image making and courageously decided to share their images and artworks with the world.
🔅 The team at @summitagedcare Wallsend for your support.
🔅 @jodi_vial_writer for facilitating our connection with her family, expanding our understanding of connections to place, and for the beautiful words she wrote for this project.
🔅 Proudly supported by the City of Newcastle @cityofnewcastle.au and Wallsend Business Improvement Association @wowwallsend
🔅 This project is a part of the Special Business Rate initiative.