I Used to be You by Kyoto Hamada Tackles the Fear of Aging
Meghan Young — April 12, 2013 — Life-Stages
References: iusedtobeyou.me & itsnicethat
The I Used to be You photo series tackles the fear of aging in a beautiful and brave way. Photographer Kyoko Hamada adopts an elderly alter-ego named Kikuchiyo-san. The complete opposite of Beyonce's Sasha Fierce, Kikuchiyo-san leads a quiet life filled with sewing, museums and laundry. Hamada was inspired by both big and small losses when creating this series such as the closing of her favorite cafe and the death of her father.
Poignantly captured, the I Used to be You photo series has been an ongoing project for almost a year. Hamada writes, "If I met Kikuchiyo-san, I might just smile at her and be quiet for a while. She probably wouldn’t say much either; she might just nod and smile if I spoke about anything at all. Or, she might ask me to sit with her on a park bench and we would look at the sunset in the quiet stillness."
Poignantly captured, the I Used to be You photo series has been an ongoing project for almost a year. Hamada writes, "If I met Kikuchiyo-san, I might just smile at her and be quiet for a while. She probably wouldn’t say much either; she might just nod and smile if I spoke about anything at all. Or, she might ask me to sit with her on a park bench and we would look at the sunset in the quiet stillness."
Trend Themes
1. Elderly Alter-ego Photography - The trend of using photography to create empathy for the aging population could be leveraged through virtual reality experiences.
2. Personal Narratives in Art - The trend towards using personal narratives as a source of inspiration for art could be leveraged to create more age-inclusive marketing campaigns.
3. Creative Exploration of Aging - The trend of showcasing the beauty in aging could be leveraged by companies to create more age-inclusive products and services.
Industry Implications
1. Photography Industry - The photography industry could explore the use of elderly alter-egos as a tool for creating more empathy and awareness for the aging population.
2. Art Industry - The art industry could incorporate more personal narratives from the aging population to create more age-inclusive representation in the art world.
3. Consumer Goods Industry - The consumer goods industry can create more age-inclusive products by exploring the creative expressions of aging as seen through the lens of art and photography.
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