I'M OLD AND I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!Portraits of an Unruly Old Age

When age becomes an act of resistance

"I'm still here. I see, I hear, I laugh, I resist. And I haven't finished surprising you yet."

Society tells us that old age is about fading away. That we must disappear politely, make way, become invisible. But there are those who refuse. After Silhouettes, where I explored invisibility as a natural cycle, this project celebrates those who choose to remain visible. "I'm old and I don't give a damn about you" is not an insult. It's a declaration of freedom.

Project presentation

The concept: A diptych for each portrait

Each person is represented by two images that are in dialogue with each other:

A black and white portrait with flour : Flour represents the soul, memory, the ephemeral. It evokes what remains of us when everything else flies away: our dreams, our struggles, our laughter.

A contextual portrait : The person in their environment, with exaggerated poses, symbolic accessories, or theatrical staging.

Why this diptych? Because old age is both what we once were and what we are today.

Portrait en noir et blanc de Jacques, 91 ans, chaudronnier et technicien, tenant une loupe devant son œil. L'horloge en arrière-plan et son expression déterminée symbolisent son histoire de résistance et de précision. Projet 'Je suis vieux et je t'emmerde' par Manuel VZ.
Portrait en noir et blanc de Jacques, 91 ans, les mains levées dans un geste expressif. Les traces de farine ou de poussière autour de lui évoquent son histoire de travail et de résistance. Projet 'Je suis vieux et je t'emmerde' par Manuel VZ.

My Artistic Approach

Black and white as a universal language

Black and white purifies the image, retaining only the essentials: shapes, emotions, contrasts. Unlike Silhouetteswhere I used to capture stolen moments, here I work with my models:

  • I interview them to understand their story, their struggles, their dreams.
  • I stage them to create images that tell the story of who they are.
  • I collaborate with them on the art direction (environments, outfits, accessories, poses).

 

Result: Portraits that are not of them, but by them

Portrait en noir et blanc d’Hélène, 81 ans, recouverte de farine, les mains levées dans un geste de défi ou de transmission. La farine symbolise l’âme, la mémoire et l’éphémère, thèmes centraux du projet 'Je suis vieux et je t'emmerde' par Manuel VZ
Portrait en noir et blanc d’Hélène, 81 ans, enseignante et militante, tenant une cloche et un cadre avec ses Palmes académiques. Son regard déterminé et son environnement personnel illustrent son engagement pour l’éducation et la justice sociale. Projet 'Je suis vieux et je t'emmerde' par Manuel VZ.

A book for those who refuse to disappear

This book is for them. For Marie, for Jacques, for Hélène, and for all the eccentric seniors I'm going to meet. "I'm old and I don't give a damn about you."It is a tribute to those who choose to remain visible, to continue to interact with the world, to defy expectations.
It is also a reflection on old age as act of resistance What if growing old was just another form of freedom?

PROJECT IN PROGRESS! TO BE CONTINUED